Cycling UK Forum

If I'm just cycling out on a day ride, then no.
If I'm on a long tour, then yes.

Used one a couple of weeks back when I had a splitting headache and wanted some pills.

As said above, glass frontage so few security concerns popping in/out unlike a number of mini-markets I'd already passed.

I do use service stations that are conveniently located. I tend to lock my bike up to a sign or something, though.

I think that service stations could gain customers by offering good cycle parking.

I don't tend to use the ones that could potentially be the most useful (e.g. the bigger ones) because they are usually on busy roads with awkward access. I tend to use the ones in town, or at junctions where a country lane meets a classified road, or something.

thirdcrank wrote:Any port in a storm.

Any port except in a storm for me. I was returning from Coltishall in early August and stopped just south of Cambridge at the BP garage in Harston. It was pelting down. I crashed on the rubber sleeping policemen that you can just see.

Quite dangerous to cyclists in my view. Some bystanders helpfully picked me up, but I said to myself "Blow it, if they can't take more care of their customers, I'll go and look for a village shop." And did. Wouldn't go back to that garage, or another with similar fittings.

At 1.00am, 346k into a 600k ride (Daylight 600 audax) coffee and sandwiches at the all night garage in Fort William made a very welcome break.

Mick F wrote:I use them, and am happy to do so.
Personally, I lean my bike in full view of me and the staff. Open clear windows are ideal to lean a bike on ..... just like Mark1978 says.

I don't want any cycle facilities thank you. Usually they are bike racks or Sheffield stands, and they are usually too far away, so you can stuff any cycle facilities. I don't want 'em at all.

I won't even leave my bike outside a village shop without locking it up to something immovable, even if it's just by a lightweight lock. If someone went for it and it wasn't locked, even if I noticed them do it whilst looking for what I wanted and buying it, I'd never get out it time to catch them. You must be able to run faster than me......

Grandad wrote:At 1.00am, 346k into a 600k ride (Daylight 600 audax) coffee and sandwiches at the all night garage in Fort William made a very welcome break.

+1

Also one at Gretna Gateway Rbt always coincides with a meal stop for me.

Yes have used them. Very useful. Often at junctions so not always where you have to use a busy road to access them. Great for perm audax controls, buy a drink , cake etc., and get a timed receipt in return. Warm enough to provide a bit of shelter and recuperation not comfy enough to waste precious minutes of cycle time.
Oh and open at the times of day other cafes have already shut up shop.

I do not distinguish between village shops (corner shops, 7-11s, etc.) and village fuel stations, indeed some fuel stations are the village shop, some village shops were a fuel station, and one in the next village was a fuel station, then became just a shop for while, then reopened as a fuel station....

I use both of them far more often when out on my own than with group rides- where the tedency is to go to cafes or pubs and spend considerably more money to get the same amount of fluid and calorie intake, though admittedly rehydrating with a £3.50 pint of Proper Job is a more enjoyable than with a £1 bottle of Spar mineral water.

Service stations often have a water tap quickly and easily accessible for refilling your water containers. Not always in UK, but in some countries it can more or less be relied upon. Especially excellent for taking 10-15 litres for an overnight wildcamp and tomorrow's water if wild-camping in dry lands is what you are into.

Service stations often have dribbles of engine oil left over in discarded containers useful for oiling your chain - more an issue on long foreign tours than day trip in GB.

In some places the service station is the village shop/café. Some such service station shops in GB are run by the likes of Tesco and they are much more reasonable in their prices than the rest.

Flinders wrote:

Mick F wrote:I use them, and am happy to do so.
Personally, I lean my bike in full view of me and the staff. Open clear windows are ideal to lean a bike on ..... just like Mark1978 says.

I don't want any cycle facilities thank you. Usually they are bike racks or Sheffield stands, and they are usually too far away, so you can stuff any cycle facilities. I don't want 'em at all.

I won't even leave my bike outside a village shop without locking it up to something immovable, even if it's just by a lightweight lock. If someone went for it and it wasn't locked, even if I noticed them do it whilst looking for what I wanted and buying it, I'd never get out it time to catch them. You must be able to run faster than me......

I suppose it's something to do with which town you're in.

If I call in at the local Morrisons, I lock Bike up at a nice plastic-covered post next to the disabled bays near the front door. When in a supermarket, you can be a long way from your bike.

In Tavistock this morning and called in at NatWest to pay in a cheque. Normally when I'm at the bank I lean Bike up at the outside window in full view of the public and of the bank customers, but recently I saw a chap lean his bike INSIDE the front foyer. Today, I did the same, and felt much happier.

No-one batted an eyelid.

In Tavistock this morning and called in at NatWest to pay in a cheque. Normally when I'm at the bank I lean Bike up at the outside window in full view of the public and of the bank customers, but recently I saw a chap lean his bike INSIDE the front foyer. Today, I did the same, and felt much happier

I went to the local theatre last nigh, full house for the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. In the queue to go in was a man carrying his folded bike.

I don't even use them for fuel. I buy my vegetable oil in 20 litre drums from Costco.

I've used motorway service stations in the past. You have to find the back entrance obviously but they can be great for an all night breakfast. The club would use them on an all night ride

A sign of the times.

Many rural pubs have gone, or have limited hours

Equally so have many village shops.

Garages and "service stations" however remain.

When touring they often provide the opportunity to stock up that is otherwise denied