Yeah, there is the softening. I think the thing I hate the most in the winter here is the guys with the big 3 foot wide brushes that clear the sidewalks. I've had them totally coat me with snow - it's not fun at all....

I wreck more in winter, but it's never from ice, almost always from running a pedal into a snowbank. Or from being too drunk...

I still wouldn't want to ride that bike through a foot of snow though, but I hate brakes during the winter. You'll probably end up locking up the wheels and skidding all over the place. You gotta be fixed to deal with winter...