Mkael my friend, you obviously don't live in goathead thorn country... I am happy for you.

Out here getting a flat has very little to do with riding style or the tires folks use... Goatheads can defeat kevlar liners, Slime liners, Armadillos and even those thick 'puncture resistant' tubes. They're needle sharp and very robust. I'm sure some of the other folks will agree that they are pretty tough to deal with.

The local bike shops generally recommend treating tubes with slime... You still get a flat, but you just spin the tire and then pump it up. Then you're on your way. I personally don't use it - and I pay the price in inconvenience.

If you live in an urban area like Orange County, CA where the roads are good and generally free of debris, then riding style and tire choice might be the biggest factor in preventing flats... But if you ride in a place like SW Idaho or the California high desert (or lots of other places) then you just gotta pay your dues...

I suppose I could use those super-heavy 'sponge-type tubes...

DWR