I hope the suspension holds out better than that, but we shall see. If it's as bad as you say I'm going rigid like a moose in January. One reason I hesitate to go to a cyclocross is I really don't need speed that much. The most I have to go in the winter is 20 miles round trip, and I've had my closest calls accident-wise when I get speed up and try to ride like it's summer. Suddenly I'm pinched between some loon in a snow truck and an 8' berm of packed snow on the right. That woke me up, and thankfully I survived it. You're in Fairbanks? You guys seem to have fewer insane drivers than we do and your snow is far superior in quality. Our snow is often wet and full of chunder.

I agree re. floatation and I'm not even trying it. I've got good studs but I'm not going with this Pugsley extra wide or the 4x wide some of the marathon racers are coming up with now. If I can plow through a foot of fresh stuff I'll be very happy. The Mnt. bike at least gives me more leverage over obstacles than my cruiser did.