Robyn Saunders Wilson“I don’t ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days,” goes the adage, and with summer finally here, we couldn’t agree more. Sun on our face, wind whipping through helmeted hair, dashing through a park via pedal power. We are here for it!
Salem is something of a cycling gem for those in the know. Home to five bike shops, miles of bike lanes, a leg of the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, and we haven’t even mentioned access to Minto-Brown Island Park or the quick car ride to epic mountain bike trails. Oh Salem. On some days you make all our bike dreams come true. For many, the city can feel disjointed without a clear guide for your two-wheeled adventures. Never fear. We’ve got you. Consider this your leg up into the saddle.
Bike Shops on a Mission
Salem is rich with bike shops. All bring their unique flair, passion, and layers of expertise to our local cycling scene. Shops are a great resource for: keeping your bike rolling forward with ease, discussing safety best practices like helmets, lights and locks, targeting rider comfort (hello bike shorts), making sure your bike fits you, and helping you find your dream bike or e-bike.
When it comes to this time of year (a.k.a sunny-time), repair turnaround time can be several days out, so it’s good to plan ahead and leave the shop plenty of time to make sure your trusty steed is road/trail ready for the season. Here’s who to talk to:
Bike Peddler
174 Commercial St NE
503-399-7741 | BikePeddler.com | IG: @bikepeddlersalem
Known for their deep knowledge of all makes and models, the Bike Peddler has been keeping the young and young at heart rolling forward since 1974 (happy 50th Anniversary, Bike Peddler!). Not only are they a full-service shop, meaning they do bike sales, repairs and rentals, they also pride themselves on making cycling more accessible by hosting casual fun rides and maintenance clinics.
Northwest BMX
1697 25th St SE
503-689-7630 | NorthwestBMXShop.com | IG: @northwestbmx
Your one-stop-shop for BMX bikes, parts and scooters. The team has been serving the BMX race community for more than 7 years, and is a great resource for bikes, accessories, and repairs.
Northwest Hub
1230 Broadway St NE
503-584-1052 | TheNorthwestHub.org | IG: @thenorthwesthub
The Northwest Hub is a Salem treasure. With a mission to provide “bicycles for all,” this nonprofit organization does just that and then some. The Hub provides affordable new and used bikes, parts, accessories, and service. All proceeds benefit its robust programs that connect those in need with transportation, training, and jobs. But the Hub staff doesn’t stop there, they also actively partner with other organizations in our county to provide bike education and maintenance clinics. Be sure to check out their website for ways you can make a donation to keep this resource going strong for years to come.
Santiam Bicycle
388 Commercial St NE
503-363-6602 | SantiamBicycle.com | IG: @santiambikes
Often called “the mountain bike shop” for its active participation in maintaining local trails, sponsoring up-and-coming racers, and stocking a floor jam-packed with suspension bikes, Santiam is the resident guide of all things dirt. However, (like all Salem shops) they do so much more than mountain bikes and are also a great resource for casual riding, commuting, BMX, gravel riding, and skateboards. They also host monthly group rides at local trail systems, which is a great way to meet other riders and learn about cool places to ride. For more details, be sure to check out their website and social media feeds.
Scott’s Cycle & Fitness
147 Commercial St SE
503-363-4516 | ScottsCycle.com | IG: @scottscycle
When it comes to Salem shops, no one has tenure quite like Scott’s. Founded in 1914, Scott’s originally carried lawnmowers, motorcycles and bikes, plus it did double duty as a locksmith. More than a hundred years later, the team has shed the lawnmowers, motorcycles and locksmithing, but the bike thing continues to go strong. With a well-rounded inventory of road, mountain, and casual bikes as well as the usual accessories and repair services, you can find everything you need at Scott’s. You can also jump on any of the group rides at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday or 8:15 a.m. on Saturdays.
Clubs/Teams
In addition to bike shops, local clubs are a tremendous source of knowledge and community.
Salem Bicycle Club
The Salem Bicycle Club was formed in 1969 for the purpose of promoting recreational bike tours in the local area. This large and active club hosts daily rides and puts on Oregon’s famous Monster Cookie Metric Century Ride (typically scheduled in Spring). For more details on upcoming rides, visit their website at www.salembicycleclub.org.
National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) – Oregon League
NICA was organized in 2017 to provide a fun, safe and high-quality mountain biking program for students in grades 6 to 12. We have two teams in our immediate area: the Salem Composite Descenders and the Silver Falls Composite Sasquatches. This program is all about the fun factor with its core values centering on inclusivity, equity, respect, and community. The season begins in July and extends through October.
Connect on IG: @oregonmtb | @salemdescenders | @silverfallsmtb
Capitol Velo
One of the oldest amateur cycling teams in Oregon, Capitol Velo’s members range from seasoned veterans to those just getting started in bicycle racing. They tackle all the disciplines, participating in road, gravel, cyclocross, and mountain bike races. They are also known to organize some of the best mountain bike and cyclocross races around. If you’re interested in pushing the performance end of cycling, the Capitol Velo crew is your tribe.
Salem Area Trail Alliance (SATA)
With a mission of getting more people on more trails in the greater Salem area, the Salem Area Trail Alliance is your go-to organization for building, sustaining, and advocating for recreational trails used by bikers, hikers, and runners. Their website at salemtrails.org is a wealth of information for trail maps and volunteer opportunities.
Getting Around: Route Planning
With a little planning, getting around the city can be fast, efficient and (let’s be frank) — glorious. The key is the zig and zag, staying off busy streets, hitting up the bike lanes, and staying on designated sharrow streets (sharrows are designated streets in which bikes can take the full lane). If you need help planning a trip across town, check out the Get There app, which provides the most efficient bike route from point A to B.
Using the City of Salem’s bike path map, you can also get acquainted with our bike paths. Much is in the works to further build out Salem’s bike infrastructure, but in the meantime, take advantage of our carless bike paths at parks like Minto Brown Island and Riverfront Park for miles of paved and gravel paths.
Finally, if you’d like to escape the city, the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway is a must. Oregon is the only state in the nation with Scenic Bikeways, offering Oregon’s “best of the best” road routes. In our case, the Willamette Scenic Bikeway runs directly through Salem and offers 134 miles of adventure.
Grab those helmets and let’s press the pedal!
Author: Robyn Saunders Wilson
Robyn Saunders Wilson is a local writer, cycling enthusiast, and coach of the mighty Salem Composite Descenders (a youth mountain bike coach). You can catch her gleefully pedaling through town or writing one of her slice of life essays at rswcagefree.com.
