Ditto: "I've never tried studded/spiked tyres, but I don't want to stop when things get icy."
I don't stop cycling over the winter. In the past I've found snow to be no real challenge & great fun, use the mountain bike with nobbly tyres and take care on corners.
However, the winter 2 years ago was a horror and the stretch of prom by the Cat&Dog home was a cm thick with ice along its whole length. Came off doing a gingerly ~6mph, but still too painful to want to repeat.
Last year I considered getting spiked tyres, but was too stingey, as they were about £45 each. However, when I saw them a couple of weeks ago for £30 each on Spa cycles I decided to get a pair.
I have now done about 50 miles bedding them in very carefully and have not lost a spike. The spikes at the edges don't appear to have seen much contact with the road however. The noise has reduced a fair bit. For some reason it has been quite exciting - this makes no real sense as all I done is held off hard acceleration(+braking) - little things...
When I came off on the prom I found that walking was 10 times as hard as the riding had been - so I have bodged together straps (using a pair of straps from some pedals) with small nuts&bolts in them, to go around my shoes if needs be, all a bit 'Heath Robinson', but I think they'll do the job.
Somewhat OT. The council now plans to grit the Innocent, does anybody know how far out of town they plan to go? Ideally they would go along to old Big W, but I fear they may stop at Duddingston Rd.