My ears a burning!
As Southey said I recently had my first winter on a motorbike commuting 16 miles to college from the middle of nowhere
about an hours ride in decent weather round these roads.
It's frightening the first time you try to ride on snow, I remember it was for me but I think it depends on the road conditions where you live and where you are travelling to. Like I said I live right out in the countryside of Cornwall with it's fair share of icy patches and blind-corners but there was only one day where I actually felt completely unsafe and decided to turn back. I was very apprehensive about riding my first winter - I had only been riding about 7-8 months - but I listened to all the advice I could find and I haven't had a single accident. I knew where the ice was bad and often took a different, albeit longer route to avoid it. I've never had a problem with rain but ice and snowy conditions are horrible to ride in because you often can't see ice, and snow just covers the whole road. The day I decided to turn back It was snowing and I had to pull over to let someone coming the other way through a narrow road and my back tyre locked up even though I was going pretty slowly and being gentle on the brakes - there's nothing worth enough to ride through conditions like that.
I don't really want to tell you do it or don't do it because I don't know you and I don't know what the roads are like around your area. You have to be confident riding in the winter because if you falter you are going to make mistakes but don't get cocky. If you do decide to ride through the winter get yourself a decent pair of gloves - I tried to ride with summer weight gloves and my fingers went almost numb
, wear proper safety gear - boots, trousers, jacket, gloves, a decent helmet and a
high visibility vest, try to figure out where the ice is worst, give yourself bigger allowances for cars in front, try and get some extra lessons if you can and most important of all think to yourself: Is it worth it? Is you getting to work really worth the risk? You've got to be smart when it comes to biking before you actually get on the bike - nobody is good enough to avoid accidents completely even if they are arrogant enough to believe it so be the smart one and decide whether you actually can get on the bike today or whether you are just gonna have to suck it and be late getting the bus.
Good luck with whatever your decision. I hope it all goes well and make sure whatever you do, be safe!