Originally Posted by bsyptak
I started commuting thinking to myself I'd ride every day unless there was 6+ inches of snow. Packed snow is no problem, water is no problem. It's the ice and to some extent the cold. 9 miles is too far to go on ice, it just takes too long and it's not worth falling. I don't have/need studs since the ice conditions maybe occur 10 times in a season. On the cold, I have pretty much set a 10F degree limit. Below that and/or ice, I ride the bus.
I've ridden a couple of times in sub-zero F temps, with double-gloves, double-socks, thermal underwear, and a facemask. Also, I only had to go ~5 miles each way. Even then I stopped halfway to warm up. Definitely do not do it unprepared.
Packed snow is no problem? I find it to be a real problem on the side streets near my house. Granted, the
hard-packed stuff is not so bad, but invariably there's always loose slush as well, which is slippery as anything. But unless there is an active winter storm, the main roads are usually okay. The condition of the main roads is usually my determining factor. I definitely don't ride in winter precipitation.