FLCC> Winter Cycling Conditions in Ithaca

[John Rieffel]

Hey Folks,

Despite the fact that I wore a wool ss jersey yesterday, I'm holding  
out the hope that my first days of ithaca winter cycling are still  
far off.   But I'd still like to be prepared.

Back in Boston I was able to commute year-round without any trouble.   
My winter rig was a surly steamroller fixed gear with nokian ice  
tires.  The bike was a truly reliable beast, and rock-solid on the  
ice.  In nicer weather, without the threat of ice, I rode my IF  
cyclocross bike with knobbies.

Ithaca, however, has hills, so fixed-gear commuting is more or less  
out of the question.  Before doing something outrageous like buying a  
new bike, i wanted to find out a little more about what to expect  
around here this winter?

My current commute from Thomas Rd to Cornell is along Ellis Hollow  
Creek to Stevenson to 366.  November-March, what can I expect the  
roads and shoulders to look like at their best/worst?   Might there  
be a better route to take in nasty weather?  What kind of bikes do  
you all ride in the winter?  How many days this winter will it be  
faster to ski to work than bike?

thanks,
jr