A pool and someone who will help with instruction is invaluable! Especially if you haven't swam in years. As far as the stationary bikes go, you may not have the seat high enough. Try lifting the seat a little and see if that helps. You can get by riding the spin bikes to train for the bike leg, but you cannot do a whole lot that compares to actually being in the water and swimming! Hope this helps, good luck with the training. Watch out it gets really addictive!

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it! I know I will get addicted, as right now, just in the beginning stages, I get really pissy if I don't get a workout in! My poor family!!

Thanks again,

Shell

Well, another route might be to buy a good, used bike. Since you are just starting out, I'd say take the path of least expense. I did my first year of triathlons (sprint distance) on a 12-year-old rusty road bike that I paid $150 for. It was perfect for me to start out on. The second year I upgraded to a new road bike.

I am in favor of getting a bike and figuring the swim part out. IMO, the swim is important and does set the tone for the day but the bike is where you typically spend your most time, even in a sprint race. But maybe I'm just partial to cycling because I love it.

As for swimming, I have never done a Master's group or taken lessons. I basically retaught myself to swim using the Total Immersion DVD: Freestyle Made Easy. (I did have one, 3-hour swim sesson with a TI trained coach last summer.) I'm a huge believer in it. It's the best $40 I could have dropped on swim instruction, as it helped me learn how to settle down, swim quietly and work with the water, not fight against it.

I think in your situation, it'll just come down to being creative. And I understand about the expense. This is a very costly hobby where people are willing to pay more for bikes than my car is worth. Yet, it's oh so much fun and I figure I could have a lot worse addictions! ;)