lasauge 

This was not my first winter commuting, but I tried couple new things and found a few items that made riding much easier for the conditions I'm likely to encounter here: Conti Top Contact winter tires, lobster gloves, inexpensive milsurp wool mittens, facial hair.

Halfgone

I think I rode a couple of days before it became "spring" so I can only barely comment. But basically, I learned that I can ride in the cold. It was 16f and snowing when I had to ride because my wife needed the car. So I put my Novara rain paints on over my dress pants and my snowmobiling jacket and off I went. It was totally fun. I wished I had a headband, but after about the first 8min I couldn't feel my ears anymore anyway, so no big loss.

DogBoy

I learned that no matter how much you dislike wind, there can be a windy day to make you dislike it even MORE! Like when its 5 degrees F with 20 mph headwinds in the morning, then a front comes through dropping temps to 0 F and giving 35 mph headwinds home.

turky lurkey

hmmm.. I wonder why that is. I've had the same experience. I've been kinda sick for the last several weeks. First I got a cold. That pretty much went away, then I got some kind of awful flu bug a couple weeks ago, that made me stay in bed for a few days (haven't had to stay in bed due to illness in years). I am doing better now but some congestion and residual affects from that are still hanging around. I hadn't gotten sick at all through the winter, though I bike commuted in freezing temps daily. I suppose maybe it's just a coincidence that I have been kind of sickly this spring, probably has nothing to do with the season but I'm not sure.

dude72

i learned that winter commuting makes you fast. i also learned that i miss my singlespeed bike, and that merino wool underwear helps a lot.

Bizman

This was my first year/winter of commuting and I made it! On the worst nights it would take 1.25 hours or a little more (warm weather about an hour) for my 12.5 mile commute coming home at 4:00 am. I learned that it is not as bad as many think, coldest temp was 7deg F windchill -7 deg F. When dressed right it is no problem.

Merino wool baselayers/socks, Woolrich bibs, glove liners inside XL mittens, Gore Phantom outer shell, balaclava, wool hat, NEO'S overboots over winter boots, studded tires, allow a little extra time, go a little longer route if paths haven't been plowed yet to avoid pushing your bike through deep snow, BE EXTRA CAREFUL!

laflavor

I feel like commuting during the winters in Phoenix, AZ doesn't really teach you all that much. Wear a light, long sleeve shirt and some thin gloves in the mornings, so they easily fit in the panniers during the afternoon ride and you don't get too hot.

The summer riding, though, will be a true test.

assembly

I learned how surprisingly comfortable it can be even if it looks cold and miserable out.

And that a fresh layer of snow and/or gravel is just as slippery as ice (eeeep).

And the most important thing: DRESSING IN LAYERS!

wipekitty

I learned that below 0F riding isn't scary, overdressing and getting sweaty is scary, and a little bit of creativity can go a long way toward arriving with all parts intact. I also learned that I need an upgraded winter bike with proper studded tires before November (the last one got left in California).

Now that the snow has melted, I've learned that I am one of those crazy people who really, really loves the winter, and for that reason, I probably can't ever leave the Midwest again!

TransitBiker

I have been riding year round for about 6 years now (didn't need to before that). For the first time ever, we had multiple sub zero days here, and I learned that even though cold makes the tire & tube denser, air will still shrink and you still need to put air in on those days or end up riding on mushy sluggish tires.

First time i rode after a big snow dump as well, and i learned that you can go on those plow pile narrowed streets, just watch out for potholes, especially ones that may be filled with meltwater....!

I also learned that i need better breathing protection, because exerting + biting cold air = not good.

- Andy

MikeRides

I learned that when I need to commute by bike in the winter that I need to get up earlier. I was running late on more than one occasion back in February, luckily my boss understands my situation and gives me a little of a break as long as I make up the time after hours. I learned how important BRIGHT lights are on back roads in the dark. I managed to brave the freezing temps back in February, but whenever there was precipitation mixed in I would turn back and carpool for my own safety. Next year I'll probably finally put fenders and wider tires on my bike to be able to ride in the inclement weather.

spinbackle

Riding through 4-6 inches of sleet/frozen rain at 15 degrees F. is like riding through sand. Studded tires worked great on the ice but I don't think any tire would have worked well in that stuff. This stuff was on the bridges.

awfulwaffle 

I learned (thanks to this forum) that fenders are a must if I want to avoid wrecking my drivetrain or having to bring my bike inside to wash and relube every night.