Ankle Pain from excessive skidding?

Until you get a puncture from skidding. Don't carry a spare tyre, carry some strips of milk carton and some duck tape. Fix ride to destination, buy tyre and swap.

Is that a real tip? I always feel like Im binning tyres prematurely (or I blow them up in some incovenient place).

Dammit, what gearing is your bike incidentally?