Fantastic-first bike commute in 5 months due to a number of reasons/issues. Also, my first winter commute-it was ~+8*F this morning. I spent the last couple weeks equipping the bike for winter commuting, and testing different clothing layers, and finally jumped off this morning. First impressions on the lights I bought (Blackburn X8)-very good. Part of my ride is a couple miles slicing through a state park on a narrow and winding road, and with it being pitch black, the lights were a life saver. Tires-great! I went with the Schwalbe Marathon Winters, and am very impressed. As they state, rolling resistance is noticeable, a lot more than my commute tires. With the additional clothing, load, and bike weight, I was not fast, and there are a couple long climbs, and I think my speedo sensor needs a new battery, but I suspect I averaged about 11-12mph while being cautious on my first winter/darkness commute. I need to improve my footwear situation a bit, but overall, no surprises. 8.5miles total. Now the fun part is getting back home.