(As told by Joe Lellman via e-mail)

I sent an email about leading an SMR at the last minute, and Tim posted the ride to RWGPS. We met at 9:30 at JFK, with 6 total riders including me, Elissa F, Eric W, Mike Y, Mike H, and Noah, who is the boyfriend of Mike H's daughter Emma. I had a little time constraint, so planned a simple Cosby loop. The weather was perfect, as it has been the past few weeks.

Noah had some mechanical issues with Mike H's old bike which required a couple of unscheduled stops, but we made it into Shelburne Falls in pretty good time. At that point, several small factions formed: one that wanted to go longer by riding into Ashfield (Mike Y and Eric W), a faction that wanted to look at the flowers on the Bridge of Flowers (Mike H. and Noah), and Elissa and me, who wanted to get home lickety-split. Therefore, I can't report on the other riders from then on, but I can report on Elissa's and my ride home from Shelburne Falls.

Because Elissa knew that I needed to get home ASAP (to drive to Putney to watch Charlotte race the West Hill Cross), she went right to the front and DRILLED IT!! The only time she sat up was to take a gel, and as soon as she finished it she went right back to the front and towed me all the way home with an impressive turn of speed the entire time. I had a little difficulty holding her wheel, and Strava said that I PR'd one of the segments there. It was impressive. I ended up with 47.7 miles, 3 hours, and 3,110 feet of elevation. It was a very enjoyable morning.