Originally Posted by
WhyFi
How much further are you looking to go? I get out in to the boonies regularly enough, and I can't say that I wouldn't be able to find a gas station or convenience store someplace along a route of any significant distance (for anything under ~62 miles, I don't bother stopping). On longer rides, I'll just keep an eye out when I start getting low, but I know that I can always noodle for 5-10 miles if I need to get conservative with fluids.
I'm planning a 75 mile ride that is on a rails-to-trails packed gravel trail. I've found that many of the rails-to-trails trails in my state offer beautiful scenery but the towns on those trails are often "dried-up" and one is lucky if there's a gas station, store, or restaurant in the town... often there is not. So rather than chance not being able to get water, I figure I ought to do the Boy Scout thing and be prepared.