Last year, the only exercise I got during the holiday season was whipping out my credit cards and twisting the cork out of bottles of red wine. This meant that my bank balance shrunk drastically; unfortunately, that was the only thing that shrank.

This year, I've set up an insurance policy: I've told a couple of cyclist friends that I'll ride with them through the New Year. I know I can count on them to shame me into getting on my bike. When all else fails, I know that they'll serve up some good old-fashioned peer pressure, and that it'll probably do the trick.

The friends I recruited (or did they recruit me?) are really good sticking with their cycling routine during the holidays. Unlike me, they don't tend to find a lot of perfectly valid excuses to miss a workout.

Apparently, they think it's possible to exercise regularly during the holidays and shop for presents, get ready for Christmas parties, bake cookies, send out X-mas cards, and participate in the general madness. They also think it's lame to skip a ride just because it's a little chilly outside.

So, I fail to show up for any of the above reasons, I'll get some grief. That's why I've started to ride with them, and I'm not the only one who appreciates their attitude.

These friends also organize a standing group ride on Saturdays mornings. They always get a big turn out in December, mainly because so many people are looking for ways to burn off that extra Christmas cookie and keep their sanity during the season.

I expect that regular rides not only balance out those extra holiday indulgences. They also help alleviate the stress and craziness that starts to kick in right about now. I'm pretty sure that I'll enjoy the holidays more (and have more peace-of-mind) if I make the time to squeeze in a few bike rides.

Nonetheless, I reserve the right to skip a ride and stay home under the covers if it starts to snow.