Thanks all you guys for your kind words!

Darcy- you're right- I don't usually go quite THAT fast when there are cars around....but in the country here we often get onto descents with no car anywhere in sight. That's when I just let er rip.
I am a BIG one to "take the lane" whenever I feel it is to my advantage safety wise. Not afraid to do that or to leave plenty of leeway on my right for added safety. I agree with you.
Also- my bike computer can be set either way- to keep recording while I am stopped, or to stop recording data while I am stopped. The latter setting is called "automatic" and that's where I have mine set. Everything automatically stops while I've stopped drinking water, etc, then resumes as soon as I start rolling again. It shows an "AT" on the screen when set to automatic. Don't you have the pamphlet/directions for your computer?- it would detail this there.

I got my first practice changing tires in my living room when I changed to thinner tires on my bike. It wasn't changing a flat on the road, but mostly of the same procedure. Being in th ecomfort of your living room with the bike on a stand and tools on the coffee table (along with a cup of coffee) sure makes it easier to learn the ropes! It might be good to practice just once at home taking off your back wheel and tube and then putting it back on again. I might even suggest one do this so you'll feel more confident when you get an actual flat on the road.