I agree with most of what has been stated here, but after several dozen years commuting in East coast, West coast, Midwest, and Mountain conditions I have developed a fairly simple strategy that has kept me upright and in control of my bike in even the worst conditions.
First, if you are putting studs on your tires, put studs on your shoes.....
Originally Posted by
cyccommute
......As for clipless, there are disadvantages to 'getting a leg out'. I did a number on my hamstring because I did unclip and got my foot down. My leg went one way and my bike when another..........
I wear clipless pedals whenever I ride and I feel that having the ability to control the attitude of the bike through the solid connection gives me an advantage in staying upright (although I do back off the release tension a bit in winter). I can relate to your experience though cyccommute, which is why I add 10 #7 slotted hex-head sheetmetal screws to the bottom of each of my Bontrager MTB shoe for winter ( I have couple other pairs of Sidis that I use when there is no ice). These shoes work like Nokian 294 Extremes for your feet on ice, but you do have to take caution when walking on tiled floors.
BTW: These are 1/2 size larger than my other shoes to accomodate wool and polypropolene socks.
Second, choose the right tires so that you are not tempted to switch to non-studded tires, just before you need the studs.
Originally Posted by
Llamero
Just make sure you buy studded tires with carbide studs. I've been riding on Nokian Mount & Grounds for several years now, and I've never lost a stud, nor have they been worn down......
+1
Nokian Mount & Grounds or Marathon Winters have very little more rolling resistance than a standard MTB tire when fully inflated and traveling in a straight line (but they can slide around a bit in corners). They also work quite well off-road for non-icy conditions so there is really no need to swap them out between storms. Nokian 294 Extremes are for seriously harsh conditions that even more seasoned winter riders will not ride in, or for off-road use primarily, and they are probably overkill for most rider's needs due to high rolling resistance. This is why many riders swap them out for standard MTB wheels as soon as the ice melts, and then they get caught riding home on plain rubber when a storm surprises them. I do have a separate set of wheels with Nokian 204 Extremes, but I only use them when the Mount & Grounds just won't cut it.
Third, consider wearing some basic DH MTB protective gear under you winter outer wear. Elbow pads, or a jersey with built-in elbow pads, a pair of DH shorts with hip pads, a pair of knee/shin pads, and a properly padded pair of DH gloves will make an amazing difference in how you feel when you get up from a crash if you have one.