Climate buddy and cycling enthusiast Dano offered this advice for the off-season: “Never go into your big ring.”

Easier said than done this morning down the hill into the valley with a howling tailwind, but I kept it on the small chain ring all day. The psychological trick was to set my bike computer on “cadence” rather than using it as a speedometer, so I didn’t suffer the angst of riding slow. The trick worked. I’m so dumb.

I took most of the week off, but resting didn’t set well with my newly remodelled metabolism, and by the end of the week I felt all edgy, so a decent ride was in order for this morning. I rode down Candelaria into the valley. (Albuquerque readers will ask why he rode down a light industrial corridor, along a major arterial with poor shoulders and bike lanes most of the way. What can I say? I was on a wander.)

I picked up the river trail at the Rio Grande Nature Center, and followed it south through the new pipeline construction project. (Albuquerque readers will ask why he rode on a lousy temporary bike trail through a construction project. What can I say? I was on a wander.)

Down along the river trail, the asters are in bloom, a delicate spray of purple from each plant that belies their remarkable desert durability.

The howllng tailwind headed out of the heights was, of course, equivalent to a howling headwind climbing back up the hill, but I didn’t mind. I was in my small chain ring, and I had no idea how slow I was going. I was on a wander. I think my training next season should include one wander per week.