I hear you about wind... a bunch of do the Tour of Palm springs out here each winter and the route takes us through the windmill farm. (hint, they don't put those where it's calm). 10 mph in the drops at 300 watts is no way to go on a bike ride. It didn't feel like there was any particular way to get OUT of the wind either, even if you tried drafting somebody. Devil wind, I tell you.
I'll take hills over wind every day - at least you are guaranteed a down hill at some point.
Congratulations on finishing.
