Hubert, the winter is not as bad as the Spring when everything melts and all you have is mud. Deep mud !. Dress warm, do not get wet, eat a lot of hot food and drink NO alcohol. Drink lots of hot tea. You bike will do just fine, it is made for this kind of terrain. You will do just fine, you were made to travel like this. Not to worry, each town has a house that will take you in in winter. Yes, you might have to sleep with some fleas but better that than freezing. A compost heap is a good, warm place to sleep in. Yes, you read right, dig a hole in a compost heat, wrap yourself in plastic and crawl in, it is warm. Bon Voyage, mon ami !