A fair question, Tom. Despite the challenges, and they are quite numerous, I still prefer it to driving. It's probably part of my mental/emotional make-up or personality that I do what I do. Part of it is pushing the limits of what is comfortable/sustainable/tolerable physically, but to some degree, mentally/psychologically. Simply put, it toughens you. Part of it is getting exercise at the same time. Two birds... I'd be doing something else early in the morning before driving to work if I weren't riding anyway. This way seems more efficient.

Yesterday's round trip took 2.50 hours. Today's will likely be the same if not more. Seems like a lot of time to devote to commuting, but I just treat it as bike rides that I would have done anyway if it was any other season. And besides, winter is temporary. It's not always going to be this way.

I do have my limits. If at any point I didn't feel safe riding I'd stop. Extreme cold (like below -25*C), high winds, and poor road conditions would be the main factors. Despite looking pretty bad, road conditions were actually quite manageable yesterday, and I'm not above walking sections if it is necessary to do so.