Originally Posted by
wphamilton
If you've gone 5 years of commuting, or 15,000+ miles without a flat, that's extraordinary and I probably wouldn't change anything. Unless that feat involves ritual blood sacrifice or something.
I commuted over 5000 miles/year for 12 years in a row (5 years in Germany and 7 in Iowa) without having to fix or change a flat while on the road. I did have to fix an occasional (maybe once a year) slow leak that flatted while at home or at the work site. Commuting bike equipped with 622 x 47mm regular Schwalbe Marathon tires. I still always carry a pump, spare tube and patch kit anyways with no hassle.