Marlene Raznick's secret formula for avoiding flats:
- Armadillo tires are expensive but well worth it.
- Mr Tuffy tire liners - buy them in a width that allows you to line the sides of the tire as well at the bottom for maximum coverage.
- Invest in a decent tire pump with a built-in pressure gauge. Keep your tires properly inflated - check them every day before riding. Some flats are caused by not having enough air in your tires.
- If you see any goathead patches, stop and pull a few up. The plant is an annual, meaning that if you pull it out by its root, it won't grow back. Do pick up any of the dangerous seeds, though, and pack them away. 5 minutes a day on your way home will clear a moderate patch in a week.
Slime, shlime. It's disgusting, messy, and may cause diarrhea (don't believe me? check the label). It has never helped me deal with any leaks or punctures, but more importantly, it contains propylene glycol. This chemical, being toxic to at least some mammals, has no justification being leaked and squirted all over the place by bicyclists.
