Winter Cycling - Finally initiated into the ice commuter clan

Had my first genuine slip-n-fall in 2 winters. I changed my ghetto studded tires out for knobbies a few weeks ago, so these were just plain old tires. If I know ice is present, I have never fallen. Today, some black ice in my parking lot snuck up on me just like the tasty creeper burn of a good Thai dish. I didn't see it coming, and it bit me.

All's well, though. It was a cartoon-esque fall that would have been best accompanied by a slide-whistle sound effect. No harm, and more importantly NO WITNESSES! I rode the rest of the trip cautiously.

I may chop my studs down a bit with some end-nippers or a grinder and try them again if this ice lasts. We'll have to see what happens, though.

Why not purchase some decent studded tires, like Nokians?

That would involve spending more than $20 for tires that I rarely need. Out here in Johnson County, the roads are usually pretty clear. Vis-a-vis: parking lots and occasionally sidewalks.

You don't think people out here would actually drive their Lexus and Mercedes SUVs on snow or slush, do you? From reading your posts, it sounds like there's a bit more disparity in how public works reacts out there versus here closer to metro-burbia.