You can do some awesome drifting on icy roads… 
it does mean regular change of underpants but it’s a worthy expense
what he said…
common sense should prevail in riding in winter…but then not everyones got a bit of common!
you will need more than new pants hen it spits you off;)
Graphite powder for all locks
Can’t beat it
It doesn’t attrct dust and various crap; it doesn’t stick; if mixed with water it won’t compact, water won’t freeze; cheap
Used it for decades on all types of locks. A bottle costs around £3 and lasts years
For riding in winter, just be SMOOTH and increase the distance.
Keep light on the handlebars by gripping the tank with your knees and use your body to hold your weight.
Let the bike and tyres do the work and always be SMOOTH on every manoeuvre.
Do not panic and stiffen up if slippery, just keep light and SMOOTH with the controls.
The best advice for riding in winter
is fit stabilisers
Here is the stuff, going to get some tomorrow…
http://www.maplin.co.uk/graphite-lock-lubricant-444745
Don’t under estimate the cold, I rode to Bikefest once (which is in the North Somewhere) I didn’t really realise how far it was and when I got there I was wondering why it was full of people from Leeds and Sheffield. Anyway on the way there I didn’t have the liners in my jacket and trousers, they were in the top box. So I slowly froze my balls off and figured I was nearly there. First roundabout off the motorway, on the approach I realized I couldn’t actually move. Thankfully there was nothing coming. Lesson learned though.
Having a one piece waterproof on your person is also essential. Even in the summer being cold, wet and miserable means your more likely to crash.
And stop if you need to warm up, there is nothing heroic about sliding down the asphalt.
Having fif… er, a few, winters of riding under my belt, I seem to be an expert. Wrong!
Rule 1: Keep warm but comfortable. Layers are the key and don’t be a pansy or pretend to be some hard arse. If you start to feel cold, put another layer on or, better, stop for a coffee/tea and then put another layer on. Or take it off. My last snow experience I was riding with the jacket undone, and still a bit too hot Better a live pansy than an injured hero.
Rule 2: Try to stay relaxed even if the sphincter is clenched tight.
Rule 3: You are never prepared for the unexpected. Obviously! Live with it and hope you do your best and it turns out to be the right thing.
Rule 4: Keep your speed to something you feel comfortable with. It might be embarrassingly slow but hey, your making progress and all going well, not falling off or hitting anything.
Rule 5: All of the other advice given above by other people, so avoid white lines, manhole covers, the white bits of zebra crossings, road grit, BMW car drivers (and Volvo’s), white vans, Post Office vans, black cabs, mini cabs, London buses, prats, pedestrians and all the other things you normally avoid if you are sensible.
Just do it. But do it carefully.
Avoid lateral forces. I go round corners like my grandma until spring.
Um, I don’t remember my granny going out between Christmas and spring. Wimp.
Ride in the car tracks until snow starts to settle - tends to be cleaner with less debris. If snow starts to settle, aim for the fresh snow in the middle as it will offer you more grip than snow packed into ice by wheels.
Also short shift if you have the torque, and if you’re going to lock up a wheel make it the back one so don’t get yourself into a situation where the front brake is going to be called upon. If you do, squeeze.
Test the grip of a surface by skimming a boot along, you’ll be surprised how much info you’ll get.
A rear wheel spinning up is telling you to simmer down because you won’t be able to scrub the speed off safely, so sit back in the traffic until the surface changes.
Don’t ride like an old lady all the time, just start to learn to hear what your bike and tyres are telling you. It’s still fun, just different.
Personally, I draw the line at snow. :w00t:
Doesn’t everybody? One inch of snow and people phone in to say… I’m snowed in!!!
Great advice from all. Thank you very much.
More like 1cm given how much the trains struggle lol but everyone loves a snow day (well slush day in London) 
Noooooooo!, Snow!
He’s a cun’t!!
Informa! 
Rode in the snow last year, was totally stupid but fun nonetheless…
Stay nice and smooth, NO sudden braking use your gearbox to keep the bike under control.
If the snow has been down a while be careful using the car tracks as the snow can become compacted and turn into sheet ice. keep the bike as upright as possible.
Keep yourself warm and dry. 
This is a video I took a few weeks ago after getting caught out by the weather in the south of France.
Full video here
Never lick metal poles.
Don’t eat the yellow snow