Pacific NW riding in March?

[not2brite]

I'd like to bring my bike down from Anchorage to the Pacific NW in mid-March while I'm down there for training. Can someone down there tell me what I could expect for weather about that time of year? Would I have at least a chance of reasonable weather in which to ride? Would I need to go south to CA for decent weather? Thanks much.

[knary]

I'd like to bring my bike down from Anchorage to the Pacific NW in mid-March while I'm down there for training. Can someone down there tell me what I could expect for weather about that time of year? Would I have at least a chance of reasonable weather in which to ride? Would I need to go south to CA for decent weather? Thanks much.

Define "reasonable".

[PacWestGS]

Just bring you're 'warmer' (50s) wet weather riding gear and a good attitude. March is a good month.

Russ

[Sidmariner]

I can tell you what southern coastal BC weather is like, but first you need to know that there are five seasons in these parts: Pre-Spring, Spring, Summer, Pre-Fall and Fall - that's it. Once every 75 years we get a snowfall that lasts more than a few weeks, just to keep us from getting too smug. Between October and late May you can expect pretty much the same kind of weather, a continuous series of lows coming off the Pacific which bring along grey skies and light rain or drizzle and mild temperatures. The saying goes: if you don't like the weather just wait 15 minutes and it will change. Strangely, last February was glorious and we were walking around in short sleeves on fabulous sunny days.
I commute every day about 40km back and forth on my K1100LT and only missed four days between early October and Christmas. The temerature dipped to -2 at night and the frost and black ice was a concern until it would all melt by 10 am. I had to remove the liners from my riding pants and jacket because I was getting too warm but plugged my electric vest in for the ride in to work. My only complaint was cold knuckles - heated grips kept my palms warm but I've yet to find a pair of gloves that keep the back of my hands warm when I'm belting up the highway.
As long as you have some decent wet-weather gear you should be able to ride this part of the NW, and I suspect the US Pacific Northwest too.
Hope this helps.

[larrylarry75]

:usa Originally Posted by not2brite
I'd like to bring my bike down from Anchorage to the Pacific NW in mid-March while I'm down there for training. Can someone down there tell me what I could expect for weather about that time of year? Would I have at least a chance of reasonable weather in which to ride? Would I need to go south to CA for decent weather? Thanks much.

Uh.... PNW weather forcast for March....rain during daylight hours followed by darkness. (There's a reason why the Oregon State Bird is the banana slug...) BTW, where ya gonna stay, the PNW is a fairly large place? Are you coming here to train for the summer Olympics or is this job related?
:thumb Come anyway, you'll love it!

[not2brite]

Thanks for the responses. "Reasonable" riding conditions in March after living up here means "no ice on the road." We generally don't get clear roads until May, depending on the year. I think I'll bring my raingear and come down...there's always I-5 south to CA. :dance

[knary]

Thanks for the responses. "Reasonable" riding conditions in March after living up here means "no ice on the road." We generally don't get clear roads until May, depending on the year. I think I'll bring my raingear and come down...there's always I-5 south to CA. :dance

:nod

Bring your rain gear. Expect a good chance of ice up on the Cascade passes and a slimmer possibility of some on the others (Siskiyou on I-5, coastal range, etc). Worst case, you have to take one of the lower passes on a less than direct path to California.

What will you be riding? March is definitely muddy season - good sloppy fun on some kinds of bikes. :evil

[Montana]

Define "Pacific NW" and "down there." That would help.