If the locals are telling you that "converting" your road bike is a good idea then I would re-think from where my advice is coming. Without a funky stem you will not be able to drop the front end low enough to really take advantage of aerobars and then you would need a forward post and the handling would be all screwed up, yadda, yadda, yadda. Not the best idea and always full of compromises.
By the way, your wife is right. Given than QR now makes their Kilo with a 78.5 seat tube, I would buy that bike up in a heartbeat for that price range. Buy the wheels off eBay for cheap. I would probably not even buy a new bike. You can find a LOT of nice tri bikes on eBay for half the normal price. I'm all about supporting the local shop, but there comes a point where you have to do what is best for you.
Chad
By the way, your wife is right. Given than QR now makes their Kilo with a 78.5 seat tube, I would buy that bike up in a heartbeat for that price range. Buy the wheels off eBay for cheap. I would probably not even buy a new bike. You can find a LOT of nice tri bikes on eBay for half the normal price. I'm all about supporting the local shop, but there comes a point where you have to do what is best for you.
Chad