Originally Posted by Velo Dog

"My first flat." "I've had a couple of them."
Jesus Christ. I've had nine on a century and six in my 25-mile RT commute. Back when I kept compulsive records, I averaged one every 30 miles all summer (lot of thorns here).
This points up the value of learning to do routine stuff before you have to do it, though. The first time I fixed a flat, about 1970, it took half an hour. I can do it now, with a spare tube but a frame-fit pump, in about four minutes.