We had snow pellets on the road this morning too but it sounds like it might have been worse for you. I tend to put off using the studs until the first significant snow or freezing rain. Studs really only help on ice or hardpack anyway. They need something to bite into which there wasn't today. It's rare that I use them before December but it happens.

Once I switch to the winter bike I won't ride anything else until March. Even if the roads are dry, there is usually a salt residue and I'd prefer not to expose more than one bike to that. I thought I had washed and rinsed everything pretty thoroughly off my winter bike in the spring, but I pulled apart my rear disc brake caliper last night and clearly I need to do a better job. That stuff gets everywhere and wreaks havoc.