Winter riding in the Willamette Valley
 

I live in Salem Oregon, the middle of the Willamette Valley. Winters are mild compared to the Midwest and the Northeast. The average winter lows are about 10 degrees warmer than New York City. It does get below freezing at night. We get snow sometimes and there is the issue of black ice.

It was 35 degrees when I went out for a 20 mile ride yesterday. No wind and blue skies. I was dressed for it and enjoyed myself. A friend who is a long time biker strongly suggested that it is not a good idea to ride when the temperature gets this low. His big concern is ice. Of course there was no ice on the ground yesterday but winter will bring ice.

I’m retired so I ride when I want. In the summer I go out at 6:30 in the morning while it is still cool. I planned to ride later in the day during the winter. No rding in the dark. Snow and icy roads will keep me in. I’m not a fast rider. My usual 20 mile rides out in the farm land north of town take about 2 hours. Part of the ride in on a MUP.

What I’d like to know is how much of a problem is ice given where I live and my ability to choose when I ride. Those who live along the I5 corridor between Portland and Eugene Oregon will probably have the best idea of what I will be facing.

I'm up near Tacoma, so have similar weather. I'll be riding tomorrow with an expected temp of 30 F or so. I know it hasn't rained for a few days and that the area I'll be covering is dry. Having said that, I do not ride over ice . Snow I do ride over, but ice , well it's not for me. Studded tires would make it ok, but I have none. My point is, you probably know where the areas of moisture are along your route. If so, avoid them when it has frozen. Otherwise enjoy the ride.