TAIPEI – As the cycling around Taiwan continues to grow, locals and tourists are finding that the 10,000-plus convenience stores throughout the island are a destination and a welcoming rest stop.

Chains such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and Circle K are “popular not just with convenience-minded consumers but also with long-distance cyclists looking to stock up on food and water and even fix their bikes, writes the China Post.

The news source writes that 500 of 7-Eleven’s 5,000 stores have special “bicycle depots” where cyclists can find tire pumps and a variety of specialized food items. Some of the most popular products offered by local convenience stores are sports drinks, bananas and energy drinks.

The Tourism Bureau has also worked with convenience stores to open information centers. For example, seven FamilyMarts are providing travelers with maps and free WiFi services, while some offer cell phone recharging and tire pumps.

Jake Hemingway, an American who has lived in Taiwan for eight years, told the newspaper that he relies on convenience stores wherever his wheels take him.  During cycling trips, his first choice when he gets hungry is to stop at a c-store, noting that many stores now offer bicycle pumps for added convenience.

Hemingway also commented that he feels no other place in the world is friendlier to bicyclists than Taiwan, thanks to the omnipresent convenience stores.