Julian G. said:
Well, an autoshift put me in a cast and off the bike for nearly 3 months, so ya, it could be a problem. It's the slight flexing in the frame when the shifter cable isn't moving freely that causes it. Normally you'd lube the part where the cable goes around the BB, but in your case you'd have to not let the cable get covered with snow. How you would do that, I do not know, but I'm thinking fenders (however the fenders might collect snow and not allow the wheels to turn).