I think that you may need to take extra precations with your hip because there is increased risk. But you can mitigate the dangers. The downhill bikers are using pads for crash protection. Why not a winter biker. I'm not sure if the downhill pelvic protectors have hip pads but if there is a lot of ice this would be something that I would want to look into.
Where I live the snow usually melts off the roads at least five or six days a week in the winter. But commuting is different because you don't have the option of changing your riding schedule. I would opt for the studded tires, flat pedals and crash protectors to start out and then change from there.
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