i just figured that a dedicated tribike would be a great thing to have if i'm really doing a lot of triathlons (which i hope i will!)

It is... but it's probably the least necessary of the equipment on your list, at least for most triathletes. Since you don't have a road bike yet, I'd get 1 bike to do everything, rather than 2 purpose-specific bikes (again, unless you are really going to do THAT much riding on both bikes). I'm a bike *kitten*, so I'm always looking to buy something new... but even so, my tri bike was overkill.

I've been advised to hire my tri wetsuit, then buy it later if I really get on with it.

I have two one piece scuba wetsuits. One is just lycra one is an actual 1mm 'winter' swimmer. I shopped both of mine in the 'off season' which would be now for most of you in your local scuba shops. Got them on discount for around 45 for the lycra and I think the 1mil was $60. Regular price is like 129 if you go super hi-tech. But really just a unibody suit will do wonders for you when you train and swim.

I have noticed quite a difference between when I wear them and when I don't. I can actually feel the 'drag' from my swimsuit and open body when I don't have the uni suit on. Also it's 46F in the air temp right now, pool is heated sure. But you have to get out at some point. And that 1mil suit is like heaven as you run for the locker room and a hot shower.

I'd pick a uni suit over a specialized bike anyday. Extra strength workouts power up your quads and hams to get you through the lesser bike. At least till you can afford the single road bike. That's essentially what I'm doing. I only have a mountain bike as well. Sure it's painful, but that just makes me want it more.

I have a tri bike that I bought myself as a reward after my first Olympic. A 2007 Cervelo Dual that has since carried me through a bunch of races and which will carry me through this coming year of training and races.

Now I want a road bike and I wish I'd gone that route to start with.

The reality is that I'm a middle of the pack (well, a bit above the middle, but not by much ) age grouper. The benefits to having a tri geometry bike are real, but are overwhelmed by the negatives. I can't do the Fondo rides (no aerobars need apply), I can't go on some of the larger group rides (tri bikes are frowned upon in pack rides).

Don't get me wrong, I love my tri bike and would love to pick up a new one for the coming season, but I think i'm going to get a LOT more value out of a road bike that has aero characteristics. I can clip on aero bars, use my sperm helmet (race helmet), put on my Zipp 404s and not lose a lot. And i can take the aero toys off and go do some of the other rides as well.

As for geometry, yeah, I'm going to have to deal with legs that have been in road position rather than tri position which will increase fatigue slightly, but I'll also have a faster bike split.

S

Everybody does things differently, has different stories, etc etc. What works for me may be way off for you. And, sadly, it's a long learning process to figure out exactly what you need, with TONS of questions that only you can answer.

I have a truly bad trail bike (first bike I got, it's so low-end it's almost a beach cruiser), a fairly good road bike (bought used, and it's a good reliable bike, but just doesn't fit right) and a sweet amazing life changing tri bike (looked for a year and found exactly the right bike for me). Once I got my amazing spectacular life changing tri bike, my road bike got put in the closet, and only comes out for very special occasions. It's a basic guarantee - get two bikes that can do roughly the same jobs, and one will be used while the other becomes obsolete. Every friend I have complains of the same thing - a road bike that gathers dust. Now, I want to sell off the crappy trail bike and fairly good road bike and replace with a good, properly fit, cross bike. My thinking is, if I can't do it with a tri bike or a cross bike, why would I be bothering?

It's taken me 5 years of figuring out what I need, how I ride, who I am, and what I'm after. Hopefully it won't take you this long, but the hard truth is, it may. Whatever you do - and truly, WHATEVER YOU DO - make sure your bike purchase(s) are fit to you. If you're not comfortable on your bike, it doesn't matter how great a machine it is, it's simply a bad bike for you.

A few questions you'll probably be encountering as you journey along:
1) What are all the purposes I need out of this bike?
2) Who will I be riding with? Alone? Saturday LBS group? Tri club group?
3) What distances and/or terrains will I be biking?
4) How much am I willing to spend?
5) How long will I be keeping this bike?
6) How expendable will this first purchase be, or become over time?
7) What is/are my riding style(s)? Always aggressive? Always laid back? A mix of both?

There are a lot of other questions, but you'll figure them all out as your journey continues. I wish you luck.