I use a Gary Fisher Marlin, 10 years old. The front suspension seized after about a month, what with all the sand getting in there. I changed that up with a rigid front fork. My simple advice is, do it on
the cheap. Winter really does beat up a bike unless you can put maintenance into it every night. Cleaning, lubing, tightening the cables. Lights are a must. Best investement I ever made was buying handlebar mounted halogen lights. You look like a motorcycle coming down the road. In the long dark winters it is just as important to be seen as it is to see.

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Winnipeg, Canada