Best upgrade for bike and gear?

x2 on everything above.

For the bike...

Go ahead and commit to the clipless bike shoes and pedals.  The stiffer platform is more efficient and will be easier on the arches of your foot.  You can get away with pedalling with your running shoes for short races but I think your feet will be happier if you make the switch.

I would get a professional fitting on your existing bike before slapping on a pair of aero bars...ask the fitter what adjustments he would suggest if you added aero bars.  Using aero bars on a road bike requires a compromise in your fitting and a professional fitter can give you the +/-'s adding the bars.  What he will probably tell you is that if you're fit properly on your road bike and you add the aero bars, you'll gain some aeroness but lose some power & comfort since your hip angle will be a bit closed.

An aero helmet will save time.  I don't have one yet but it's on the "to get" list.

Continental GP4000s tires with latex tubes will run faster than most other clincher tire setups. Probikekit.com usually has some good prices on the Conti's.

A water bottle is going to be more aero between the aero bars (if you go with that setup), less so on the down tube, and even less so on the seat tube. 

For the run...

Get a running belt to attach your bib...they're cheap (probably $5-$15 at most running stores).

Don't upgrade anything on the bike, and I don't consider shoes/pedals an upgrade so much as a necessary expense when getting a bike... kind of like a helmet.  just invest in a good bike fitting and get a few good cycling kits for training. 

best thing to do is ride your bike often and hard. 

Your first upgrade should be clipless pedals. These days I strongly recommend Speedplay for ease of entry/exit, short learning curve, dual sided.

^This

And.......the last thing I would ever put on a road bike is "aero bars".   Wait, let me rephrase....I would NEVER put "aero bars" on a road bike.  It's not exaggerating to say that everybody who does can't even ride their road bike to it's fullest capabilities yet.....and once you get close, get a TT bike.

You mentioned you already got shoes... are they "tri specific shoes"?  One HUGE difference is shoes you can stick your feet in, wet and sockless, and feel comfortable. One strap.   These are shoes you can wear for general riding and don't look strange for a casual ride, but are priceless during a triathlon.  If you can trade, I would.

I'm a fan of clip-on aerobars.  I know there's a whole thing about having it fit right, etc.  In my experience putting on the bar, even if ill-fitting, improved my bike time and pleasure immensely.

Originally posted by mike761

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Clempson

Don't upgrade anything on the bike, and I don't consider shoes/pedals an upgrade so much as a necessary expense when getting a bike... kind of like a helmet.  just invest in a good bike fitting and get a few good cycling kits for training. 

best thing to do is ride your bike often and hard. 

^This

And.......the last thing I would ever put on a road bike is "aero bars".   Wait, let me rephrase....I would NEVER put "aero bars" on a road bike.  It's not exaggerating to say that everybody who does can't even ride their road bike to it's fullest capabilities yet.....and once you get close, get a TT bike.

In 1989 Greg Lemond put some aero bars on his road bike, he seemed to be able to ride his bike to its capabilities

Cool, you found one guy...and a multiple Tour champion to boot. LOL  

The "train more" answers always make me chuckle...  The question is was not how to get faster, it was the best upgrade...

So, if I just got money to burn, and want to buy some speed, what's the harm of spending money - I shouldn't and just train more?  If I can "buy" speed at whatever level of fitness I have or training level, why not?

Interesting how pros don't ride huffy bikes with loose clothing instead of working of fitness.  They have the fastest equipment AND work on the engine.  Mutually exclusive. 

For the OP.  You HAVE to go clipless.  It may take a moment to learn, but it's basically essential and FAR more efficient.  I can't even contemplate riding without them.

In order for bang for your buck, IMO? 

Tight cycling clothes - go with bibs, BTW.  That's the other thing I would never go back from.

An earo helmet would buy you a couple seconds over 40k IF you are in earo in the first place.  They don't have as much of an impact if you are sitting up.

Invest in light tool kit and inflator.  Less weight on the bike/more earo bag.

Some higher TPI tires and latex tubes.  Quick, but expensive and wear out fast.

Race wheels/lighter training wheels.

Investing in a proper fit is not really an upgrade, but could help with speed.

I'm 50/50 on setting up the road bike with earo bars.  Riding in the drops is probably just as effective.

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by mike761

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Clempson

Don't upgrade anything on the bike, and I don't consider shoes/pedals an upgrade so much as a necessary expense when getting a bike... kind of like a helmet.  just invest in a good bike fitting and get a few good cycling kits for training. 

best thing to do is ride your bike often and hard. 

^This

And.......the last thing I would ever put on a road bike is "aero bars".   Wait, let me rephrase....I would NEVER put "aero bars" on a road bike.  It's not exaggerating to say that everybody who does can't even ride their road bike to it's fullest capabilities yet.....and once you get close, get a TT bike.

In 1989 Greg Lemond put some aero bars on his road bike, he seemed to be able to ride his bike to its capabilities

Cool, you found one guy...and a multiple Tour champion to boot. LOL  

I have ITU clip-ons on my my roadie.  You mad, bro?!

Originally posted by msteiner

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by mike761

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Clempson

Don't upgrade anything on the bike, and I don't consider shoes/pedals an upgrade so much as a necessary expense when getting a bike... kind of like a helmet.  just invest in a good bike fitting and get a few good cycling kits for training. 

best thing to do is ride your bike often and hard. 

^This

And.......the last thing I would ever put on a road bike is "aero bars".   Wait, let me rephrase....I would NEVER put "aero bars" on a road bike.  It's not exaggerating to say that everybody who does can't even ride their road bike to it's fullest capabilities yet.....and once you get close, get a TT bike.

In 1989 Greg Lemond put some aero bars on his road bike, he seemed to be able to ride his bike to its capabilities

Cool, you found one guy...and a multiple Tour champion to boot. LOL  

I have ITU clip-ons on my my roadie.  You mad, bro?!

Nah.....but you don't need them.  You won't be any faster in a draft legal race with them.

Originally posted by Shoeless

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by msteiner

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by mike761

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Clempson

Don't upgrade anything on the bike, and I don't consider shoes/pedals an upgrade so much as a necessary expense when getting a bike... kind of like a helmet.  just invest in a good bike fitting and get a few good cycling kits for training. 

best thing to do is ride your bike often and hard. 

^This

And.......the last thing I would ever put on a road bike is "aero bars".   Wait, let me rephrase....I would NEVER put "aero bars" on a road bike.  It's not exaggerating to say that everybody who does can't even ride their road bike to it's fullest capabilities yet.....and once you get close, get a TT bike.

In 1989 Greg Lemond put some aero bars on his road bike, he seemed to be able to ride his bike to its capabilities

Cool, you found one guy...and a multiple Tour champion to boot. LOL  

I have ITU clip-ons on my my roadie.  You mad, bro?!

Nah.....but you don't need them.  You won't be any faster in a draft legal race with them.

I put aero bars on my bike because I ride long distances and craved another position for cruising. I love having the extra position as an option.

Be honest....what percentage of the time do you ride on your drops?

Originally posted by Shoeless

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Shoeless

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by msteiner

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by mike761

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Clempson

Don't upgrade anything on the bike, and I don't consider shoes/pedals an upgrade so much as a necessary expense when getting a bike... kind of like a helmet.  just invest in a good bike fitting and get a few good cycling kits for training. 

best thing to do is ride your bike often and hard. 

^This

And.......the last thing I would ever put on a road bike is "aero bars".   Wait, let me rephrase....I would NEVER put "aero bars" on a road bike.  It's not exaggerating to say that everybody who does can't even ride their road bike to it's fullest capabilities yet.....and once you get close, get a TT bike.

In 1989 Greg Lemond put some aero bars on his road bike, he seemed to be able to ride his bike to its capabilities

Cool, you found one guy...and a multiple Tour champion to boot. LOL  

I have ITU clip-ons on my my roadie.  You mad, bro?!

Nah.....but you don't need them.  You won't be any faster in a draft legal race with them.

I put aero bars on my bike because I ride long distances and craved another position for cruising. I love having the extra position as an option.

Be honest....what percentage of the time do you ride on your drops?

I'm about 25% in the drops, 45% on the hoods, and 30% in aero.

You will become a better cyclist if you ride more in the drops and less in "aero".....that's my only point.  Thanks for being honest. It's hard to ride there, but it's valuable.

I'm sure it's my own pet peeve, but I think the "triathlon community" does new riders a disservice recommending aero bars (AMONG OTHER THINGS.)  So many people can barely handle a bike as it is.  Learn to ride and handle your bike, then learn to ride it faster, THEN get the "free speed".  Triathlon should be a process.....it leads to a lifestyle instead of burnout, which is SO prevalent and unfortunate.