bikes.....what to do??

newbie to triathlon after conversion from a runner, got my first road bike last summer, "Specialized Allez Elite"... very happy with it so far, but the thing is i have about £1000 to spend on new bike stuff and dont really know if that sort of budget would get a much better bike or would i be better off upgrading some bits and pieces on the bike ive got.....cheers for any suggestions.

To gain speed the biggest bang for your buck would be to spend the £1000 (or at least a good proportion) on coaching and/or swimming lessons.

Next comes:

Aerobars, ideally carbon (£40 - £600, the latter for a high spec TT set-up, £100 should get you a decent set of clip ons)
Race tyres, e.g. Continental Competition, £50-£60 a pop (literally)
Aero helmet £100ish
Wheels - a good set of deep wheels 50mm+ £600 - £1600 for a set.

The coach speaks wisdom

£1000 will get you a lot of good coaching which will make more difference than any amount of spending on your bike.

Are you a member of any bike/tri clubs? Depending how the clubs in your area etc, that may be worth investment.

Also, how about a turbo trainer with a turbo wheel and block?

(ETA - just thinking depend on your future plans, current 'back up kit' and availability of cash, you may want to also get a few spares, some gas cartridges, lights and those other bits and pieces that add up)

thanks for the replies, i'd not even considered coaching, i could certainally use some so thats food for thought

im a member of a bike club already, but a turbo trainer is another great idea....thanks a lot

The post that said spend your money on training is so bang on right.

Men, and its mostly men are obsessed with kit, and dont spend as much time and energy thinking about training. Hence you see overweight, underconditioned cyclists, runners, swimmers, with expensive bikes, shoes, gym membership who get smoked by the guys and girls with their arse hanging out their pants so to speak.

A £1000 of good training will beat a £1000 spent on reducing your bike weight by 1kg any day.

So before you spend that money on kit ask yourself if at the moment you have pushed the bike you have as far as it will go.

The extra that a coach brings is that he or she is not you. They see you from the outside, they see when your resting on your laurels so to speak. Self coaching is fine as long as your bloody minded enough to push yourself even when things seem fine.

As a runner it takes a bit to decide to do a hard speed session on the track rather than an easy 5 miles round the local parks. A coach would say your doing the speed session and you would have to look them in the eye and say "No i feel lazy and a bit of a wuss"