In NZ we say if you rode on ice and didn't crash, you didn't ride on ice. Thanks for your reply , it seems universal that the best days are because of the people you meet and the worst days are due to the weather. Hard to enjoy being wet and cold , no matter how much you tell yourself you are having fun. Even being at work, swinging on the end of a welder sounds good when you are freezing your ass off and half a days ride to shelter.

You mentioned a few crashes. Any insight on keeping the carnage to a minimum? Would you use different tyres? Riding gear? Routing? Riding at night?

I go out of my way to avoid cities and highways , what do you think?