I'm in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada (but originally from High Wycombe in Bucks). The temperature here is extremely variable; last month over the course of a few days last month the temperature went from -12C to +8C and back again. The coldest I've seen so far this winter was -20C (with a windchill of -35C, I think, but it was more than that on the bike, of course). The clothing required for cycling in this is surprisingly minimal for short (around 45 minutes) commutes; two polypro wicking jerseys, a windbreaker, cargo pant style cotton cycling shorts, cycling tights, waterproofs, 2 pairs wool socks, winter boots, full finger gloves, oversized wintergloves, headband (for ear protection) and neck gaiter (for rebreathing to heat up the air as you breathe it in).

The salt tends to accumulate on the roads and then on the bike. When it dries out, the traffic breaks up the crystals and it swirls up in the air, and if you don't have something covering your mouth your breath it in. The roads are massively over-salted here, unfortunately.

Anyway, I'm rambling... There's plenty of people who cycle in far colder climes than me who post in the Winter forum if you want to get a taste for what it's like, or take a flick through my bike log (http://hfxbike.blogspot.com).