Originally Posted by
turtletwins2002
As a side note, you might add "get a new/better brand/model of tire" to your list. If I flatted every 385k, I would have quit riding. Honestly, if I have a flat twice a year in 7500 miles, I've had bad luck.
Of the 6 tires I had on my bike over the last 8 months, 3 were Gatorskins, 3 were Terry Tellus. I don't think I had bad luck with them. Flats are simply a part of life where I ride (Louisiana roads are as notorius for being poorly maintained/strewn with sharp detritus as the New York Turnpike is... they're just bad and hard on tires, period).
Otoh, I'll heal. This was probably the only "shot" I'll take/would have taken at a 1200km. I no longer have any doubts I could have made the distance in an acceptable time. And I'm not getting younger. So.... almost got there, almost got the t-shirt, and don't see me actually going for a 1200km ride in the future. Making the trip and seeing my friend was more important than actually completing the ride; the ride was mostly an excuse to go.