Cycling UK Forum

I'm a big fan of McDonald's when touring, particularly abroad. They offer lots of things for the touring cyclist. Cheap, filling calorie dense food. Good coffee. You can order and pay using the screen in English and sit down and have it brought to you. Free Wi Fi. Usually clean toilets. Courteous staff. You can usually lock your bike in full view of where your sitting. What's not to like?

In my book ; absolutely everything
My first visit was 35 yrs ago we had taken the kids to Legoland and before the ferry back the FiL wanted chicken nuggets. Even our kids never asked to go back to one.
Second visit, locally, while caring for an autistic boy who like McDees. I still hated the whole experience.
We’ve one in a Mway services a couple of miles from my home and youngest son who works in kitchens says the state of the floor in there his premises, care home, would be closed down if similar.
So next time you visit take a good look at the kitchen not the toilets

Mcd places in other countries are generally better. The French ones on Brittany (we went to one in brest) had food and drink that's not on the UK menu. Plus the quality of the main products that's universal was close to the pictures of them you see around the place. In the UK a quarter pounder is very light of stuff. In France it was packed full of salad, pickles, mayonnaise, etc.

In the UK I have been tempted many a time to buy a burger then rather publicly and loudly complain about how it doesn't look remotely like the picture on the displays. I think it would be good to try and make them replace it with one made exactly like the picture. Perhaps if more customers did that the UK Mcd would at least become fair quality for what it is, a carp bit of food.

BTW our son is Mcd mad. Wants to go there a lot but he's only interested in the toy gift toy get with a happy meal (and the sauces you can pump into little paper cups but that's another thing).

It's very very good at what it does. I'll have the occasional breakfast there, and as you say the coffee is good. It may not be to others taste but I'm not sure why it's so fashionable to knock it.

What is McDonalds?

Oldjohnw wrote:What is McDonalds?

Something you'd not feed your servants, never mind your wife I'm assured.

Thanks Mr Griffith-Jones

robing wrote:I'm a big fan of McDonald's when touring, particularly abroad. They offer lots of things for the touring cyclist. Cheap, filling calorie dense food. Good coffee. You can order and pay using the screen in English and sit down and have it brought to you. Free Wi Fi. Usually clean toilets. Courteous staff. You can usually lock your bike in full view of where your sitting. What's not to like?

The food?

Bonefishblues wrote:

Oldjohnw wrote:What is McDonalds?

Something you'd not feed your servants, never mind your wife I'm assured.

Thanks Mr Griffith-Jones

Ah! Would gamekeepers go there?

robing wrote:I'm a big fan of McDonald's when touring, particularly abroad. They offer lots of things for the touring cyclist. Cheap, filling calorie dense food. Good coffee. You can order and pay using the screen in English and sit down and have it brought to you. Free Wi Fi. Usually clean toilets. Courteous staff. You can usually lock your bike in full view of where your sitting. What's not to like?

Americanisation of the world (if not in America - and even if in America, there are usually local diners which are more representative of places). I tour to see visit other things, not to spend my time hopping between islands of prefab dross pretty much like what's on any UK retail park. OK, a dedicated Mc Fan might enjoy spotting the differences between the local adaptations, but I think it's a much more entertaining and fulfilling experience for example learning a few words of Serbian and taking a phrase book into the excellent restaurants of Belgrade or the small bakeries which seem to be near most railway or bus stations.

robing wrote:....What's not to like?

The food they provide.

Ian

mjr wrote:....but I think it's a much more entertaining and fulfilling experience for example learning a few words of Serbian and taking a phrase book into the excellent restaurants ......

Or working your way through a German (snack) menu trying all the different "wurst"s.

Ian

I've visited many McDonald's throughout both UK and abroad. I can concur that their toilet facilities are adequate. I was unaware that they did food!

Watch BBC's 'War on Plastics' Episode 4 to see how McDonalds UK HQ treated two primary school girls who arrived to complain about all the throw away plastic toys given out with Happy Meals.

You'll never go to McDonalds again.

I also like McD's. I always get the special offer ( with a previous receipt) their Big Mac with free fries then buy a medium size coke.

I think they are fine to use in transit when you just want a cheap refuel and on your way again. I don't tend to use them at home apart from the coffee. I'm not suggesting it as an alternative to a local restaurant in the evening. Plus I thought they always rated highly as employers?
I use Lidl more tbh but you can't sit down there and they don't have toilets, but they do have good coffee for €1.