Serious Wheel Help Needed

Get a set of Flo 60s when the Flo Cycling wheels hit the market. 

www.flocycling.com

I just picked up a set of 58mm Williams cycling wheels for 1k last week. I too have TT3s and love the williams. I have a picture in the TN forum, but will link it here as well. You could also look at hawk racing wheels, great wheel at a great price. For the price I couldn't beat them, full carbon, hybrid ceramic bearings, significantly lighter than my TT3s. Ride wise, smoother ride and spun up quicker. Did notice more movement due to wind, but to be expected with more surface area. Couldn't justify the Zipps, price was too high and i'm just not that good.

www.williamscycling.com

www.x3multisport.com (better price on the hawk wheels)

www.hawk-racing.com

My tri setup is a 404 clincher front, and a 30mm Kinlin rear laced around a power tap pro + hub and a disc cover.  Without tires and skeweres....I'm at close to 2300 grams.  The cover and used 404 front cost me about $600 total.

Weight is not a major issues in tris.  On a tri bike course, I would race my 2300 gram setup over a set of 1170 gram 303 tubulars anyday.

Really depends on your bike speed & goals.  Aero-wise your TTR3 is prob a bit less aero that the best 60mm class wheels (e.g. 404's, HED 6), but still much better than typical AL clincher. Prob more than half the way toward best 60mm wheels. Realistically better wheels are prob not going to gain you more than (my guess) 20-30sec for 40k Oly bike leg (based on published data from Roues artisenales, Zipp, Hed, Rolf, etc.).  Agree that 2.2kg is heavy wheelset, but weight is really not much of an issue for typical tri or TT unless very hilly course.  Typical tri is NOT a crit race.  Your absolute energy cost to "spin up" is quite small for a just a few accelerations on the course, and you gain back a bit of that from a little extra speed in descents and more conserved momentum while coasting. Even top pro teams on grand tours (e.g. TdF) use MUCH heavier aero wheels for the TT's than they do for other race stages.  Aero >> weight unless climbing grades of 6+%.

You say budget is an issue.  Only you can decide if the small time savings of wheel upgrade is worth $1500-2300.  IMHO it may be if you are already just a hair off the podium.  BUT the best race wheels do not take you from MOP to podium.

FWIW- common opinion seems to be most cost-effective aero wheel upgrade is used aero front (e.g. 80+mm or tri-spoke) plus disc cover for rear.

i have HED3's and i love the williams cc 58mm.  race tested, they get my stamp of approval. 

Define "SIGNIFICANT".

I would say most people will get a 30-60 second benefit over 40k when going from a standard training wheel to a race wheel set.  To me...that's significant.  To others...it's a waste of money.

I would definitely go the used route if money is a tight.  You can pick up a nice set of 60 or 80mm wheels for under $800 if you keep your eyes open.  Check out the classified section here, craigslist and ebay.  I found a nice set of used 404's and stuck a cover on the rear (~$90).  If I was just using this for my tri bike, I would probably go with 80mm instead of 60mm.  HED Jet 6's and 9's or Zipp 404's and 808's are the most popular.  If you are not in a hurry, you can also wait a little longer to see if the Flo's come out and where they get priced.

You may or may not notice a time savings from your current wheels, but if you do, it would likely be under 2 min total for an Oly.  Only you can determine if this is worth it.