It’s not so much the pie itself as it is the idea of pie that does it, adds the holiday season weight.

It’s a whole series of events that starts out innocently enough, but ends with those pants not fitting as well as they did just a month or so ago, the energy not as high as it was before Thanksgiving and the inertia to do anything about it rapidly mounting.

I don't know about you, but once I've made the decision to have pie, there's really no reason not to have more pie.

It began around Thanksgiving. I’m guessing I’m not entirely alone there. Thanksgiving, the truly American holiday, is built around food.

Honestly, it has really very little to do with food and everything to do with being together with those you love, but we’re Americans and we frequently have difficulty separating those two, so the comestibles tend to take center stage.

Also, the weather turned. It got cold in the mornings. And I’m turning into a big, fat, cold-avoiding weenie, sad to say.

* * * * *

Like practically anyone who rides bikes, I belong to a couple of bicycle-specific discussion groups, mainly to keep up on the new equipment and buy, sell and trade good used parts and generally discuss bicycling.

It’s bike nerd stuff, sure. I’m pretty okay with that.

One said group is chock full of bike nerds who are far more hardcore about their hobby than me. I sometimes feel pretty smug that my normal ride is about 17 miles, give or take. These are people who start out at 40. In the snow. Up a mountain. And wish for typhoons.

Hardcore, brother.

I foolishly admitted to this group that I just didn’t think winter cycling was going to cut it for me, despite trying to ride numerous times in downright chilly weather and that I was looking for anyone willing to part with a set of indoor trainers – the kind of setup that would allow me to turn my bike into a stationary rider that I could put in my basement to at least keep riding through the season.

That was a mistake. Let the lecturing begin!

There was the guy from Norway through whose veins apparently run solid ice, who said he doesn’t understand why anyone would not want to ride in the winter. (Dude, you’re from Norway, ‘member?) There were questions about my clothing choice, and wouldn’t I rather spend a bazillion dollars on the right clothes than ride in the climate-controlled comfort of my own home?

There was a slight lecture about riding not for exercise but to explore the natural beauty that is the great outdoors and how could I ride a bike for anything else?

To be fair, there were some measured responses from rational people who did understand that, you know, it’s harder to make yourself ride when its cold after all. Because, you know, it’s cold and junk. It was good to know I’m not entire alone.

* * * * *

Anyone who has read this column in the past (and thanks for that, by the way) knows I don’t ride because it’s a fabulous workout. It is, no question. But I ride for the love of riding, the effect on my physique, while greatly appreciated, is ancillary.

But when I don’t ride, the pie stays with me, turns out. Also, the ice cream sandwiches, sweet potatoes, things made with that lovely heavy cream, and, blast you Kellogg Company, the Cheese-its. Add it all up together with an idle bicycle and I seem to have found the 10 pounds I had apparently misplaced.

There was one person who responded to my request for an indoor trainer. He lives about 2.5 hours away and the cost to ship this thing would outweigh its price.

So I’m still looking, if anyone’s got one.

But who knows, it was 60 degrees this past weekend. Maybe Climate Change will work in my favor this season.