Funny how I keep reading how difficult it is to mount Marathon Plus and Gatorskin tires. My first Marathons were almost impossible to mount on 27" bike, the next pair just fell right off, and the Gators I bought next just barely stay on. Only my new Marathon Pluses fit onto my 700c setup perfectly-- not too tight, not to loose. So I wonder if there is a lot of size variation between lots being manufactured... Both the Schwalbes and the Contis are hand made, supposedly.
Oh, and despite not having had a flat yet in either of my bikes with the new tires, I would never dream of leaving home without a patch kit. But then like I said, both sets of tires are pretty easy for me to change, guess I got lucky. I would rather have walked my bike home ten miles than try to change one of those old Marathons on the road!