I put the studded tires on late in November and they stay on until April. I can still use my non studded road bike when the weather is dry enough and above freezing with no chance of ice. Things I'm doing different this year to help alleviate the pain and added effort needed to push these studded tires along is pacing myself and taking more time also as others have mentioned. Another experiment I'm trying is a pair of winter specific insulated cycling boots that take the spd cleats and this should help my pedaling efficiency and reduce some of the weight of insulsated hiking boots and platform pedals. I tried to keep using my cleats with shoe cover booties but it wasn't enough for when it got into the teens. Time will tell on the outcome.