What can towns offer cyclists?

[LouMelini]

Becky: Thank you for asking this question. You have received some great advice. My wife and I have approximately 9,000 miles of bike travel together over the past 10 years. We are now 64 and 57 and still prefer to camp. We seek out campgrounds (state parks, KOA, Good Sam, etc) with our primary need being a shower. A grassy spot with shade, a picnic table and if the weather is inclement, some type of shelter that may be used by the campground community are nice amenities. We are willing to pay a reasonable rate with $15-$35 being the range we have experienced. We have been turned away I believe on 2 occasions, which is really a problem if one has been riding for 6 hours or more and there isn't a convenient alternative. So it would be nice if the campgrounds (public or private) in Pittsburg, Kansas had a small area of grass, preferably with a picnic table to accommodate traveling cyclists that will come in late afternoon/early evening because of our method of travel. We could call ahead but sometimes we just don't know how far we will be traveling that day due to weather, wind and perhaps fatigue. Knowing that we are always welcome and would be accommodated would be the one wish we  had. Thank you-   Louis and Julie Melini

[PeteJack]

I topped up our white gas when we rolled into Pueblo.  As indy notes, there was a markup -- I think I paid $2 for less than a pint (IIRC, the bike shop charged by the size of the container).  Outrageous, when a gallon was $5, maybe; I still saved $3, and didn't have to dispose of the rest of the gallon.

Outrageous? These guys were probably running running a business not an indigent tourists charity, while they were tending to you they may have had a real customer interested in a new bike walk off.