I bought a Trek FX 7.2 fitness bike (hybrid) for my first tri. ($389.00) Being a newcomer to cycling, it has worked well for me. It is easy and comfortable to ride. I haven't been able to average much faster than 15.4 mph on my rides though. I am slower than the participants that have road bikes, and faster than the ones with mountain bikes. If your intention is to be competitive in your time, you might want a road bike. The bike portion of sprint triathlon is where you make most of your time, so even if you are a faster runner and swimmer, a slow bike time will be frustrating. I love my hybrid for training and fitness, but wish I could afford a faster bike for the competitive events. Good luck in your first race. It is alot of fun.

Hey newbie, there are several things you should think about before you buy.

1) If you think you really will enjoy tris, go ahead and get a road or tri bike. After your first couple races, you'll realize that on a hybrid or mtn bike, your bike splits are waaaaaay slower than people on basic road bikes. This is really frustrating, even for semi-competitive people.

2) Group training rides on a hybrid / mtn bike are tough. You will have a hard time keeping up with the slowest people on road bikes. If your area has a training group riding hybrids, then you'll be OK. Otherwise, you'll drop behind.

3) What are your training conditions like? I.e. if you're going to have to train on paths, dirt, or crappy roads, then you're probably best off with a hybrid or mtn bike. If you want to use your bike to ride local trails, you can't do that on a road bike.

4) What are your goals? Are you just going to do a couple races a year, or do you think you'll really get into training & racing (even if you're not trying to win). If you really think you're going to dig racing & training, go ahead and get the road or tri bike.

5) Remember that you really shouldn't ride training rides with a pack if you're on a real tri bike. In fact, road bikers will NOT ride training rides with tri bikes. This is because the shifters on a tri bike are on the aerobars, and the rider basically stays in the aero position, reducing manuverability. It is dangerous to draft in this position. I ride my road bike on group rides and my tri bike only solo or with other tri bikes (no drafting). A good middle ground is a road bike with aerobars and a seat post position that can be adjusted. Go to a bike shop and they will explain the differences.

Whatever you decide, it is really important to get the PROPER SIZE BIKE for you and get it fitted by a pro. (If you buy from a shop, the fit will be free. If not, it will run you $50-75.) The fit will really help your efficiency on the bike and reduce aches & pains. Many newbies neglect this in favor of good deals online. Deals are fine, but make sure you are sure the bike is the right size for you before you buy it. All bike brands are different, so just because you ride a 56 in one doesn't mean that you'll be on a 56 in another.