Just wanted to hear opinions on this matter. which do you guys/gals prefer for riding in the snow?

Fixed, definitely. You have so much more feel for what your drive wheel is doing via feedback. You can feel the least little bit of squirreling.

+1
it couldn't be explained more clearly.
i've tried both, and definitely prefer fixed.

I commuted fixed in the snow on 23's, no problems here.

control is better on snow fixed

Fixed + studded tires + low gear + front brake > anything else IMO.

I don't know, I road my single speed paper route bike in the snow for five straight winters, no brakes. Definitely sketchy, especially with a full load of papers. But in those five years I only crashed a handful of times, usually on black ice. Fixed gear this winter seemed difficult, but that was with 23c tires and way too steep of a gear ratio. Apples vs. Oranges maybe?

I've only had brief experiences riding in snow but I can say I'd prefer riding fixed. Mostly because my front brake did almost nothing and I could slow down with my legs.

Eh. I have no strong preference. My main snow/ice commuter is a fixed cyclocross with 38x16, but its been set up in the past as a SS, and I'll sometimes ride my Long Haul Trucker or SS MTB. I do fine in the ice and snow on all of them.
Having the right tires and the right gear ratio are much more important than fixed vs free on ice and snow.

Benefit of riding fixed on snow = MAD SKIDZ. Seriously whenever there is a light layer of wet-ish snow (it doesnt work in deep powder) I take my fixie around the block and skid like a fool for tens of meters. Its fun as hell and people give you looks like "WTF"~!

I'll be the dissenting voice I guess. Either is fine but I prefer the ability to shift my weight around more easily on a freewheel in the snow/ice more than I like having a little more control over the rear wheel.

Which is why slicks are a bad choice if you do any serious winter riding. With proper tires, I can still stop on a dime... well maybe a dollar, and can ride around pretty much anywhere other than really deep rutted ice.

I agree. If you're not turning alot FG is nice because you have a good feel for traction, but I like being able to coast and shift my weight around sketchy corners.

i'm wondering for the people who are saying fixed what kind of riding you do? i rode every day this winter on a small-gear SS with disc brakes. i couldn't imagine doing it on a fixed, going down a hill or any of the technical stuff. for serious snow, that sort of riding is more like mountain biking than road and people just dont ride mtb fixed (rare).

on pavement snow fixed, off pavement snow free.

duh.

short ratios and slow speeds are a plus in either drive setup.

Fixed. Forget all the "at one with the bike" BS ... Rim brakes are useless in the winter. ( read : snow. )

Ridden every winter for last decade or so (snow, ice, slush, sand, salt, sleet) and never had an issue with my brake...

My brake pads tend to keep a layer of the snow/ice/slush being raised from the road by my tires, so when i brake there is a small delay before the brake is effective, until the snow is wiped away by the rim.

Haha. For some reason, I just got a vision of bicycle 'moon-walk': Skidding backwards while pedaling forwards. That would be impressive.

Definitely fixed, though. I tried a free-wheel deal this winter in about 2 inches of snow and I didn't like it at all; felt unsafe and uber-slippery.

You are absolutely right to question us. I mostly commute short distances like from campus to my house (apprx. 1 km) so a good deal of the time I ride my bike im just messing around.

+1. Fixed is so much better in the snow.