Originally Posted by davidmcowan
It's getting colder here in Denver but we haven't yet had any snow. I'm proud to say I've maintained a five day a week to work commute and a seven day a week errand runner. The part the scares me isn't getting the right clothes (if I can spend 6 hours boarding down a freezing mountain I should be able to dress for 1 hour of bike riding) but because this is Denver I'm riding on my hybrid slicks. When the snow comes am I going to die? Is there anyone who has survived winters on wheels like these? Please tell me how, I'd prefer not to die.
You may want to get a tire with some tread on it. Cyclocross tires work well. Get tires as wide as you can fit to your bicycle since a wider footprint will help. We don't usually have enough snow and ice that lasts long enough to justify the added expense and weight of a studded tire so I would stay away from them. I usually ride a mountain bike during the winter since the tires are good and wide (I ride knobbies, not slicks) and have a good bite when you do ride in the snow. Don't be afraid to take alternative transportation when the snow really flies (as it will) because as DataJunkie says, it is usually gone pretty quickly. If we get a freezing drizzle don't even try to ride because it can get slicker 'en greased owl snot pretty quickly and you don't want to be sliding under any cars
