I'm thinking about the same thing the last days. We had a lot of snow and I did a LOT of walking, which takes me quite a lot ore time than biking to work.

My usual bike - the Buena Vista with slick racing tires can't take winter tires as it is at the moment. I'd have to change the wheels to take fatter tires and then the brakes because I'd have to move the back wheel farther back to take fatter tires... I'm not even sure if it would work out.

I'm considering searching for something like an old cyclocross for snowy conditions that would take studded tires and not cost too much, because the salt and grime on the street is really wrecking my drivetrain now. Or maybe an old MTB?

About your problem with the brakes: I had the same problem on my old bike. I think water goes into the casing of the brake-cable (melting snow or rain) and starts to freeze when you go outside, which prevents the brakes from working. I had to exchange the cable + housing to stop this from happening, but it's a quick and realtively cheap fix.

I was sithering through the snow yesterday evening too (only on the car-free parts of my way) because I got surprised by more snow during my working time and had a blast. But the slick tires are uncontrolable in fresh snow and if some slush gets caught in the wheels it's hardly impossible not to fall Still, it was such a nice evening, thick snow falling, everything quiet, all people on bikes grinned at each other