Is that the bike with the banana seat? A friend of mine who did IMC a few years back told me about a bunch of Mexicans that did the race riding banana seat cruisers, the one gear type of bike that we grew up on as kids. Cool!

Don't forget it's the motor that counts!

Sally

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"Follow your bliss"
Click here to spy on me ...[/URL" target="_blank">

You might draw a few good-natured chuckles, but this isn't high school, no one's going to call you a dork and tell you to go home (unless you have a teenage child, they will for sure). If you're worried about it, borrow a friend's bike, but I say go for it! And we want pics, of course!!!


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Running To My Future
Me[/URL" target="_blank"> and My Log[/URL" target="_blank">
The Newbie Wiki[/URL" target="_blank">

What a great article!! I love someone with a sense of humor and the courage to have fun no matter what.

I did my first tri this summer with my old Diamondback comfort cruiser. I had the time of my life (and caught the tri bug!) and was shortly thereafter bike shopping. I still don't have the fastest bike out there, but I have a real road bike now. Even so, I was and probably always will be a dedicated middle of the packer!

It's about having fun and participating. So, no no one is going to laugh at you - chances are you will find LOTS of encouragement. Other options include the ones mentioned... bike rental or borrow. Go for it and have FUN!!
Carrie

I did an olympic last year on a hybrid bke and I felt so out of place. I was so embarassed that DH had to bring it to the transition area. I did not want to be seen with it. (DH is one of those with the fast runner looks and he is, fast, too. Just not into tris.) I was angered, though, when DH told me that someone told him to buy a better bike for his wife.
He told me later on that I was the ONLY one who did not have a tribike or a road bike.

I say go for it!! No one is going to laugh at you. I might laugh, but only because I think it's cool, not because I'm making fun of you. I think everyone would just be thinking, "Cool, they are out here doing a triathlon, even without a fancy bike!" Come do a tri in Austin, and you'll fit right in. Our motto is "Keep Austin Weird" If you ever walk down Congress or 6th street, you would definitely know why!! Yeah, just make sure you don't have any safety violations, and make sure your bike is in good working order. You'll catch the bug, then you'll be at the bike shop the next day looking for a new road bike! You might catch the bug before you ever even do your first race, though. That's what happened to me! I bought my road bike 2 weeks before my first race and signed up for 2 more sprints before I ever even did my first race.

Kelli