In my life I have found that no matter where, Michiganians, especially Detroiters, and avid cyclists usually find each other, no matter what the circumstances. :beer:

I'm from the East Side, lived on Outer Drive about one mile from the City Airport through 1977; St. David High School.

California had the warmest winter on record and one of the driest, so it went pretty much like any other time of year. I did ride once in drizzle and had my first experience slipping and falling with my bike on the wet streetcar tracks. That was in December and I still have pain in my knee and one of my fingers from it. Hoping not to repeat that, ever.

I have a long commute, so the number of commutes wasn't as high as it might look. It just takes longer in the morning in winter because my body doesn't work as well, I'm carrying more stuff, and I have to go slower due to ice and darkness in general. Anyway it was a fairly mild winter. The second half of February was cold and snowy, didn't get out much then:
December: 338 miles, 265 was commuting
January: 272 miles, 176 was commuting
February: 274 miles, 223 was commuting
My coldest temp was 20. I think I have the gear to go lower but what can I say I get lazy .. and I had a lot of work to do so used that as an excuse to drive so I could stay longer.
March was much better, almost hit 500 miles, 325 commuting.

Days in the 50's and 60's, night usually as high as the mid 20's. No snow or ice, only a few nights were poking at the single digits.

I layered up a bit more than I do now, otherwise it was completely unremarkable living car free this winter.

this is the first winter i've commuted by bike. i've been commuting by bike since 2011.

- it was cold. like seriously cold. 5 degrees and 10 degrees and 15 degrees were the norm. i just dressed for it and rode.
- i got sick late-mid Jan. that's when it started snowing. skipped out on a week
- trip in early Feb to mid Feb. got sick again
- sick the week we were in town in Feb. also it was snowing cats and dogs.
- trip back in late Feb.
- got back and began riding again on Mar. 2

we got more snow and such. but i rode the day after as all the city cycling paths were typically cleared! yes! awesome. i didn't know it until i just ventured into the unknown. for example, the brooklyn bridge bike path was clear, and the pedestrian path had a pile of snow. i don't know what brilliant mind thought it, but it was great for me and the few others cycling. no one was really walking or cycling b/c it was just too cold. it was pretty freeing to commute by myself and be fast. my Moves app kept thinking my cycling was "transport" and not "cycling" b/c i was going so fast. lol.

dressing for winter commuting boiled down to:
1 don't layer too heavy on the top and bottom. maybe 2x each, or 2x lower and 3x top, max.
2 make sure you layer your face (balaclava) and hands and feet (double mittens/gloves) and (double wool socks)
3 wear your baffin boots from REI. heck, you have so many layers you may as well have warm-ish feet

some other notes:
be prepared to have your small shifter freeze on you and not shift. other things like my bell became completely frozen. that bell did not work for a good part of winter due to the freezing temps. that's fine. no one was on the roads anyway. just be aware things on your bike can and will freeze.

i really wanted to get studded tires in Jan. i should have. i will be getting them for sure for next year.