I have been bicycle commuting for almost a year now, and it looks like I picked a year with a good, honest winter for my first.... It took some effort to acquire and learn to use different winter clothes (wool, etc.) and studded tires, but I think I have winter here in IL mostly handled. To me, the satisfaction of continuing to not use a car completely outweighs the additional effort needed to haul and/or launder the extra clothing layers, and even riding on the slower studded tires is okay most of the time. The one situation that I haven't been able to beat, though, is the combination of high winds and studded tires. Studded tires I can handle if that is the only challenge - they are more work and slower, but they keep me upright on ice. Low temps (here in IL) have not been an issue at all, I have cycled twice at 4°F and actually enjoyed it. When riding on summer tires, high winds are a pain, but I can handle that too. One morning, I rode in to work at 5:00 am into a 28 mph headwind and rain, but I was able to do it because it was 35°F and I used summer tires. What I cannot deal with is high winds on studded tires. My bike does not have a gear low enough to allow me to pedal into a 20+ mph wind on any kind of uphill grade with studded tires without risking hamstring strains. Too many negative factors to fight all at once. So, I have been shut down a half dozen or so days this winter due to high winds and studded tires. Now that gives me the blues....