I recently bought a Cannondale 500 hybrid that I use for commuting to work about 70 miles a week. I go on longer rides on the weekend and usually don't have any problems keeping up with road bikes, it's much more on the road end of a hybrid than mountain I just didn't want to be in the drop down position riding around DC. I'm going to do a couple of sprint tri's this summer, I'm doing them mainly for fitness but there's no sense in entering a competition and not giving yourself every chance to be competitive. My question is: Do any of you think it is possible to switch out my handle bars with road handle bars? Will this present any problems? Like I said the bike pretty much is a road bike aside from the handle bars but I wasn't sure if there were any subtle differences that would make this problematic. I could be wrong but I'm not sure I couldn't add clip on aero bars since my handle bars are not completly strait. I'm perfectly happy with the bike I have, I'm just looking for any ways to make it a little more aerodynamic.

if you put road handlebars, you're going to have to get new brifters (brake/shifters), maybe new derailers. It wouldn't be worth the money. If you are doing Sprint tri's, there will be plenty of people using mountain and hybrid bikes. Use your bike as is, and if you like doing tri's spend the cash on a new road or tri bike down the road.

You should be able to fit clip-on aerobars to your existing bars. Might need a shim.

Thanks bert that's what I figured after talking to a few more people. By the way I'm doing the Black Bear sprint in June and then most likely the Annapolis Tri at the end of the summer. Anyone done the Black Bear before? This is the first year for Annapolis but I grew up there so I know the projected course pretty well.