Friday was my "long" commute (17 miles each way) and nice winter temps (56F). I was on track for my fastest ever ride in right up until I flatted about 2 miles from work. That was on a 2-lane country road with no shoulder and ditches or tall weeds alongside. By the time I walked the bike to somewhere I could safely fix it, it was less than a mile to work anyhow and I was already very late to work. I decided to deal with the flat later and just finish walking in. I ended up just mooching a ride home and picked up the bike Saturday when running errands. It needed to go to the LBS for a 30-day new bike checkup anyhow so I let them fix it the tire along with some other tweaks. I haven't changed a flat for probably 20 years and it took me an hour back then. I just didn't have that kind of time trying to finish stuff up before the holidays.

I did email one of the other bike commuters at work asking him to supervise me at lunchhour while I changed the flat myself (to give me a few tips to speed it up!) and to also retrieve the floor pump stashed in the mens lockerroom, but he was unavailable.