Originally Posted by noisebox

I'm a bit north of Detroit, and the burbs aren't too bike friendly. Luckily i only commute 10m round trip. However being near the 16 mile Metro Trail, I plan to do plenty of solo rides and can easily do 20 miles on multi-use trails and light traffic roads. I have lived here long enough to know suburb streets like the back of my hand. All the criss-cross streets are typically 45 or 50mph with a noticeable lack of shoulders, and as a new cyclist i plan on working up to that, not jumping in headlong. As far as Michigan winter goes, this ought to be an experience! Hopefully by first snow i'll be in Portland OR where i need to be for school. This plan to go car-less is quite an investment financially and socially. What is the consensus on riding the same bike year round, maintenance costs are likely to be much higher. What about the durability of modern bikes in the elements. Things like brake pads, tires, tubes, wheels, spokes, though a pain in the ass is something i plan to prepare for by having multiple sets on the wall for the ever changing Michigan weather. What about some titanium studs for winter on this bike, overkill or nice to have as second set?