You’d need strong legs to singlespeed in less than ideal snow.
Don’t I know it.. The eskimos have 50-odd words for snow, I have 2, good or crap )
Last weekend it was dry powdery snow, a few inches. Rode my usual longer chilterns hilly loop and it was a driftier version of summer riding, either fast and packed or loose and brilliant fun. No probs onthe climbs, just a little more effort needed.
Thursday, long night ride. Thawing and denser wet snow. Stalled on minor climbs, corners were difficult unless downhill or using a lot of weight shift, half of it was a major slog and my legs hurt on friday.
Tyres make a difference too – 2.2-2.4 at 15psi or less when drier, once it gets wetter mud tyres cut through, offer less resistance to momentum, just work better. ie, use tyres as you would on dirt, just with less pressure?
SS can help as well as hinder in snow, it’s like a torque limiter on climbs and doesn’t clog but I stall sooner than a geared bike.
Sorry to raise this one too, but unless it has 4″ tyres on, 29″ often works better in snow ime.