I ride on Bontrager rice lites with kevlar- I have only ever had one flat in the 7 years I have been riding. I was the only rider on both the Southern Tier who didn't get a flat period and definitely the only one who didn't suffer from a goats head attack. I'd like to think it is my vigilance in checking and cleaning my tires and brake pads after every ride as well as during my reaching down and letting the tire squeeze through my glove while I am pedaling if I have gone over something or rolled the bike over questionable terrain, but I suspect that it is more that it is an excellent product. Either way I luvs my kevlars, although I will admit to changing them out about every 3,000 miles or cross country ride, whichever comes first. I do have one pair left that got changed out before the 3000 mile limit and I plan to give them to a young man down the street who needs a spare set to put on his trainer bike-

Malkin,

As far as practing tire changing, I much prefer an occasional practice session in the comfort of the heat or ac.

Thanks for the name of the mountain range and now that I see ephedra I remember I used to know that years ago, but these days its a miracle if I remember anything from ancient history.