I would say go with a tri bike. If you have no reason to have a road bike, don't get one. I have a Felt s32, it's a intro tri-bike and a cheaper one. It's worked well for me, I've had it for about a year now, good bike.

If price isn't a problem, and if you've had biking experience, I would go for a more expensive bike then say a felt s32. I'm sure their are plenty of posts here that suggets different bikes, just search for a particular bike or just look around.

I'll add another couple reasons to consider a road bike...

First, comfort. It can take a little getting used to to get comfortable for long periods of time on a bike. Sometimes moreso with a tri bike than a road bike as the position can require greater flexibility and strength in places that are a little out of shape on a non-cyclist.

As far as flexibility and versatility you never know where this sport may take you. A road bike will give you more options in the future for group rides and races, as well as serving you well as a tri-race bike.

There are also simply more options in the road bike market. And I would think choice is very important in a first bike purchase. Especially for someone who's not concerned about price.

And for the record I have both, and train more often on the road bike.

"Please tell me if I'm making sense or are there reasons based on my situation that I should get a road bike to train and race?"

Why would you get a road bike if you plan on doing triathlons?
Train and race on the Tri bike.

I have a road bike and recently got a tri bike - I do 20-25% of my cycling on my road bike for one main reason: If i'm riding paceline in a large pack (>10-12 people), because once you start to ride - single or double pace line, a tri bike is no better aerodynamically and it limits your emergency handling.

There's probably one other reason that I'd grab my road bike over my tri-bike - if there is a chance of rain. I don't like getting my tri-bike wet if I can avoid it.

I have both a tri bike and a road bike. I purchased my road bike first and at the time I had no intention of doing triathlons. Once I did my first season of races, I purchased a tri bike and do 99% of my training on it. I finally got out on my road bike last week for the first ride in over half a year. There is a big difference in how each bike rides and each has there own charm, but I would just get a tri bike and forget about it.

Thank you all for your help. Even though I'm still a little confused as to which I should get, I definitely have a better idea.

A follow up question . . . If you were not participating in triathlons, would you switch to a road bike or stick with the tri bike?

Thank you!

I would go with a Road Bike

If I was never going to race a tri or TT, I would definitely get a road bike. They are tend to be less expensive than a tri bike at comparable spec levels (though not as bad now as in the past) and do offer a bit more comfort and better handling.

If I wanted a bike to do triathlons and was going to get only 1 bike, I would get a tri bike.

I have both road bike and tri bike. I think it all depends on what you really want. Will you regret having a road bike when you get to your triathlon and see all those sexy tri bikes? If you're only training and riding specifically for triathlon, get a tri bike. If you then later decide you want to ride in group rides (or start road racing where you need one) where you're not comfortable riding a tri bike (depends on the people in the group and how they perceive you), then you can always get a used road bike later for a good price.

When I'm riding my tri bike, I spend 99.9% of the time in my aerobars. I hate riding up high on the tri bike, and I only do it if it's a steep climb. On the road bike, I like riding in the drops b/c it's most comfortable for me, I think b/c of all the riding I do in the aerobars on the tri bike.

And finally, if I were only buying one bike and didn't do triathlons, I'd buy a road bike. More versatility, easier for climbing (in my opinion esp since I ride a compact crank on a road bike, but an oversize crank on my tri bike), better bike and components for the $$, easier handling and corner (again my opinion), better for me for commuting, the type of bike I need for road racing......

Good luck in the search. Post a pic once you buy one!

In an Ironman I do see some people sitting up a bit more than recommended, but I wouldn't say that high of a percentage. Some need to for food/fluid intake, or to stretch and get back into the bars. Or for a big hill. I wouldn't say that they should be on a road bike. And I never by the "don't bother if you won't win anyways" argument: I'm going for a PR, and I'm racing me. So yes, that help does matter in the race I'm in.

It does take time to get comfortable in a lower position: but it depends on your flexibility and core strength. It also depends on your pain tolerance and what you think it should feel like.

I agree 100% with that. People are just giving opinions and observations none of which is an attack on anybody here. We have a member asking a question so lets leave the forum open for everyone to answer and try to help this person out. :)

I do a lot of my training on a road bike, and plan to do more next season. I had a couple of rides this last season that were huge on climbing and I was not as comfortable as I would have been in on the road bike. We have a lot of hills here and the tri position is not as comfortable (for me at least) for lots of hill climbing. I think perhaps WHERE you will be riding might also be a consideration. I also commuted on my road bike to work, and still use it for around town commuting now that I am not working(grocery store, coffee with my friends etc). Just my .02

I do duathlons (hate swimming) and i see absolutely NO REASON to buy a tri bike. Tri Bike's are a lot more expensive, a lot more likely to be stolen, PLUS they aren't nearly as comfortable. I finished 6th place in my last Sprint Duathlon (2.2 mile run, 18 mile bike, 2.2 mile run) and my road bike was fine. Unless you are an experienced and GOOD triathlet i don't see why you'd waste the money. I beat tons of people on their tri bikes last time out.

Don't get me wrong, tri bikes are fine pieces of equipment, but if you are going to do 2 or 3 tri races a year they are pointless.

#1 they are not faster. A good road bike is faster than a good tri bike, unless you think Chris McCormack could beat Lance Armstrong. Don't see many tri or cyclocross bikes in any bike races. Again, NOT saying tri specific bikes are not incredible pieces of machinery - but unless you have lots of $ and/or are VERY good and do tris all the time - they aren't neccessary.

besides weight/girth/functionality/construction/handle bars/pedals, etc?

Just Kidding. For me (a big guy), it is the riding position, EXPENSIVE cost, and potential for theft. For 95% of the population they probably couldn't tell you.

that's what I thought. is the jury still out on the steeper angle or is that just a personal preference (works for some and not others?)

gator aerobars are endorsements/additions and not standared on evey tri bike. why would they be illegal? you are right however. i put time trial/road in same category and i shouldn't. i'd take either over a tri bike unless i won the lottery

""Are you just trolling or are you really this obnoxious?
My school pays me for my brain, not my legs. I bought all my own bikes. Go to hell. Personal attacks are pretty rare on this forum....you're not having a good first day.""

My question was legitimate. There was no personal attack involved. But since you started - you are a rude, pompous, and in advising newbies that they must have a tri bike - just flat out wrong.

""This is a personal attack on me and my school, which makes me not like you at all""

I have no idea where you go to school. I'm 34 years old. I haven't been in school for 11 years. I didn't attack anyone. Why would a school give you a bike? What does school have to do with aerobars? Are you a little kid or something? And every bike reported stolen in the metro Atlanta area seems to be a $5,000 tri bike. Police blotter/craigs list, etc. all list them. Maybe they are the only ones reported because they are expensive but somebody's stealing them.

So, if Tri-Bikes are so pointless, why are you helping to hock them to people who are obviously going to be wasting their money?

I thought you hated swimming?

Here's the thing. I'm not trying to keep the flame war going. I'm not making a personal attack. Trifuel is a community of members that put a lot of time and thought into their contributions. Most people on here are taking time during their lunch breaks, time off, etc to make thoughtful contributions here. Why? They want to help other triathletes, and build the triathlon community.

We do not take kindly to people who simply want to have a contradictory point of view to everything that is said here, as it does not BUILD the community. Look, you're new here. I was new here at one time too. Take some time, and read threads... get a feel for the way we do things around here. Then, start posting again when you think that you have something to contribute to our community.

If you have something positive to give to us, then welcome to Trifuel. If you are just going to make flames and erroneous posts like "Road Bikes are faster than TT Bikes..." then please leave us alone.

Okay, Okay.

I hate swimming because I am not fast. I don't ACTUALLY even hate it. It's just like saying I hate MATH or something I wasn't good at in high school. Sort of being funny. I like Duathlons better than Tris even though they aren't as challenging, and probably BECAUSE they aren't as challenging.

Chris McCormack is a great athlete. Maybe one of the top 5 best athletes on the planet. I thought an online TRI community would enjoy seeing the auction. That is all.

Maybe I didn't read the origins correctly but I thought the discussion was on whether a Road Bike would be okay for a Triathlon. My answer is still "Yes, it would be fine and unless you are elite or you do a ton of tris you don't need a tri bike." This Gator guys shows his 10 mile Bike Time from a recent triathlon as 25.44. my best 12.1 mile Bike Time in a Duathlon was in 2006 and was 31:18. It was fast for me (I usually come in 32 - 35 minutes depending on terrain) but not fast as someone as ELITE as Gator. That being said, if Gator gave me his bike and I gave him mine he'd still have probably the same Bike Time and i wouldn't get any faster. Again, just my opinion. Use the tennis comparison. A beginner tennis player doesn't need to spend $300 on a racket.

I've just seen lots of solid/elite tri people tell newbies that a tri bike is a MUST. Fact is in many local GA tris and Duathlons we see mountain bikes, old 10 speeds, and everything in between. Lots of beginners think that by spending $5,000 on a tri bike they will turn their 48 minute 12 mile time in a 24 minute 12 mile time and that is not remotely true.

I apologize to anyone and look forward to posting here more often. Great site.

ahahhahahahah
ahahahahahah

sad but true :( I need to do THAT

I'm 6' and 198lbs. I don't think I can lose more than 5 or 10 lbs if I wanted to.

I think its hillarious people spending thousands to make their bike maybe a half a pound lighter (p2c vs. p3c?) when they could easily get on the bike they already have and drop 10 pounds.

why is that? I'm 6'4" and weigh about 190 and I'm trying to loose some extra body weight.