Trocadero/GDVC #2

It was a double header weekend, Trocadero Criterium on Saturday and GDVC #2 on Sunday. Saturday I went to the races pretty early, knowing that this is a big turn out for our team. I had a lot of fun hanging out and watching the races. It was great hearing about team work and strategies that wanted to be done.
Weather was mostly sunny and a bit breezy making it feel pretty cold. While I was warming up I was changing my clothes trying to figure out what was going to work out the best. What I ended up with was embrocation on my legs, arm warmers, jersey and shorts. This was the perfect combination for racing. Saturday's race started out mellow and then the attacks started. There were many attacks and finally a 6 man break was successful at around 40-45 minutes of racing. The pace still stayed pretty fast with people trying to bridge or pull back the break away. On the final lap it mushroomed pretty good and I kept moving up through the pack. I still had energy to sprint and was able to pass a few people before crossing the finish line. I finished in 15th place.
I really had FUN in the race and felt very comfortable most of the time. My brother and his wife came out to watch me race which was very nice.
Sunday's race was very WINDY and cool. Again while warming up trying to figure out what to wear. I ended up with leg warmers, cold weather base layer, jersey, and shorts. I was a little over dressed. I started the race in good position and tried to hold on as long as I could. I almost crashed twice. The first time I crossed a wheel, but managed to save it. I am glad no one went down. Shortly after that I was dislodged from the peloton. I rode a lap or two by myself before 3 two others joined me. We were not working well together. I found myself by myself again until the peloton came around again. I jumped back in for maybe 3 laps, before getting dropped again. At this point the field was much smaller. I then was joined with 3 others and I don't really remember what happened with them. The second time I almost crashed I was riding the gutter with lots of sand and my pedal clipped the curb. Not a real big deal, but was definitely  an eye opener. These are the mistakes that happen when the brain no longer has any oxygen.
Not sure where I finally ended up, what I do know is that a lot of people dropped out. What was so different about the GDVC races compared to the Trocadero race? Wind! I wish I would have ran my standard aluminum wheels, just to see if that would have made a difference. I was burning matches trying to stay out of the wind. We were riding the gutters on every lap. So, I had no place to hide. This is something that the M3/4 should do during races. This is a whole new topic though. Something else that may have hindered my performance is the race the day before.
Next up is KS Energy Whitnall Park on Saturday, not sure about the road race on Sunday.