Originally Posted by
crazzywolfie
i don't think studded tires are needed in winter.
I agree with this,
Originally Posted by
crazzywolfie
now i do recommend that you disconnect your rear brakes.
though not with this.
I've done two Ottawa winters, tried a mountain bike with 1.75" Marathon Winters and a fixed gear with slick 25s. Last year (second winter) there was literally no ice to deal with, and I used the 5 speed with slick 32s I ride year-round, except I added SPDs.
The slick, skinny road tires were way better in the
snow than 1.75" studs. Maybe it's different when you go fatter than that, but unless it's icy out my MWs just slide all over the place if it's snowy or make noise on bare pavement. IMHO, the #1 thing you need for winter riding is a pair of good fenders, unless you'd describe it as an icy winter.
(Should clarify that I'm one of those people who are okay with falling a few times, but it didn't happen any more on narrow slicks than it did with studs.)