Am I aero???

Can I ask a dumb question (not of you Glen but in general)?  Shouldn't the question be more Am I Comfortable and is the position right?   Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the real benefits of being "aero" not really noticed unless you are consistently 20mph + (and not just going downhill with a headwind )

Sure, you could bring your seat forward, raise it a bit, get rid of your spacers and have your back straight as Peter Reid, but if you are uncomfortable, all of that is irrelevant

I'd say if you got a professional fit from someone who knows your current level of training and fitness, ignore the fact that you are not al Sultan "aero" right now.  As your fitness/flexibility/core strength improves (no way you can get a flat back without very good lower back/glute flexibility), your profile will drop.

Then again, I may not know what I am talking about

edit - also - as to whether not being aero defeats the purpose of a tri bike.  Not as I understand it.  Yes, get as aero as you can.  But the real purpose of a tri bike is to move you forward and save your quads for the run.  Just because you may not be "aero" doesn't mean that is not happening.

edit #2   0 hard to tell from the oblique angle, but in pic #3 you look very stretched out, like the aero bar pads could come back something like 6" (or seat forward, or combination)

Yep, Zack proved that a little EPO will beat aero anytime.

And to follow up with an example from the same race and photographer   This is Holger Beckmann of the LA tri club, 2d in AG 40-44, qualified for Kona, won Santa Barbara couple weeks ago, 6th fastest LA bike split at 1:01.  He doesn't look particularly "aero" either, but doesn't look like it's affected his time

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?EVENTID=10728&ID=26572178&FROM=photos&BIB=1615

A few thoughts: 

You benefit from an aero position if you are fighting wind resistance.  This matters long before 20mph.

You may have to work on your flexiblity to get a better position, but most can do this after some adaptation (don't increase your drop 10cm overnight).

Agree on paragraph 3.

Putting you forward helps to make it easier to get aero by opening up your hip angle (if I've got this right now).  So, yes, a tri/TT bike is to help you achieve this. 

Actually, he looks substantially more aero than the OP.  Start at the head for each and tell me otherwise.  I'm pretty sure the OP could get into a position like that with some work--it's not Bjorn-like.

*as he wades into the fray*

I agree with chris on this one. aero is great, but what advantage do you have later on in the race?

also, how tall are you? 650c wheels may be a bit small. was your fitter a "roadie" or a "triguy"? both of my bikes are set up quite differently (comparatively speaking).