Originally Posted by Bekologist

personal learning curve? commuting to university in the 80's. Blitzed mountain bikes onto the local ski hill's lifts in 87 or 88. used to ride the snowmobile trails when it was solidly frozen.

A couple of seasons to feel good and comfortable in choppy ruts and slop, a couple to figure out a good winter maintence schedule, a couple more to get good at clothing systems unless you're already a winter athlete. YEARS to figure out a good shoe although everyone knows the Lakes are the best...

I think one invaluable technique it can take years to get good at on snow and ice is for when you're NOT running studded tires- the skid turn. A very useful technique when you're on a bike without studs. Skid turns can be quite graceful too.

I think biking in traffic has a lot of nuances it takes years to pick up on regardless of snow on the ground.