If you were looking to outfit a cervelo p2k with a wheelset that is reasonably light, aerodynamic and affordable (say, not too above $1k), something good for training and racing, which sets would you consider? Thanks for any thoughts!
Racing and training I’d say Shimano 540’s.
More race focused wheels, maybe a Hed Jet on the front and a Renn Disc on the back.
If you want to go really inexpensive you can pick up a pair of Rolf Vector Pro’s off E-Bay for way less than $1000. They’re light, low spoke count, and bombproof. If you want to go a little nicer, Look for a pair of Hed Alps.
Depends on what type of racing you plan on doing and where you are riding. For flat or near flat triathlons I would buy a set of HED3’s. I use HED3’s for racing and training. They are totally bomb proof and fast as hell! If you are in a mountain area…stay away from them as they aren’t good for climbing. In all other cases, such as mountains and road racing…I have no idea. I’m in Florida and race triathlons and TT’s.
I pair a front HED with a Campy Disc for racing. I use HED3 clinchers for training and tubulars for racing.
Training and racing? I’d suggest Ksyrium SSC. Very very strong wheels and good for racing (used in the tour).
Just to add a little more detail: I will be riding in flat and hilly, though not mountainous, areas. I plan to ride all kinds of tris, including IMOO, this year. In part, I want to make sure that I have the right wheelset for IMOO, which is hilly.
Assuming you have whatever wheels that came with your bike, use those for training. If you are talking race wheels, you need an aero front wheel, and a disc (HED 3, Renn). All the ‘tweener’, semi-aero wheels are too expensive for training, and not really aero enough for race wheels.
IMoo isn’t really hilly, it’s rolling (constantly), so you are going downhill as much as up, so aero would trump weight.
Nothing to add to efernand’s post…I do the same thing as he suggested. But, I don’t train on the H3/Renn disc…mainly because I want to save the tires for races only.
let me ask this, if the bike came with mavic cosmic elites which are heavy (basically 2kg) but aero would you just stick with these?
For training you should use the wheelset that comes with the bike. Probably they’r heavy and non-aero so perfect for training hard.
With you budget ($1) I think you can buy a RENN disc, a 4 spoke Corima (rear) and a Front Aero Corima. When the race has up hills you should use the Front Aero Corima and Rear 4-Spoke Corima. When the course is flat, you put in the RENN disc.
There are many good wheelsets on the market. You may want to see also American Classic Carbon 38mm, Zipp 404 and HED Alps. The thing with HED3 is what someone already told here… if you are climbing forget it! They stink! Meanwhile… in flat courses they are terrific!
Good luck 
I am not familiar with the Elites, but unless they are 40+mm deep, they aren’t ‘really aero’, they are more aero than a standard box rim wheel, but nothing like a Zipp 404, HED Jet 40, HED3, etc. They would be fine for training and racing if you cannot afford ‘pure’ race wheels, but if you are looking to buy speed, a 40mm+ deep front and a disc is the way to go. Even just a Renn Disc would be a great ‘race’ upgrade.
Unless the race is a one way trip up a climb like Alp d’Huez, aerodynamics are more important than weight. I ran a HED Jet front and HED Disc at IMMoo.