How ridiculous am I going to be?

Lots of folks ride road bikes at races. I volunteered at a HIM here in MA and I was surprised by some of the bikes. Bikes are just your tool to ride...fast folks often ride old bike but still they supply the fast engine.

Don't worry about wetsuit either. It is SC and warmer than many places so water will be warm.

Check out the race link and you will see who on BT is registered to race and you can PM them and ask question as often they have done it in the past. You can also check out those who hav raced in the past by reading race reports.

Most of all have fun!

Kathy is 100% right...you are not going to stand out like a sore thumb.  My guess is that you definitely won't be the only without a wetsuit, and there is NO way you'll be the only one with a roadie.  Some people really despise wetsuits, and if it's hot (which SC can be!!) those folks are definitely less apt to wear one. A LOT of people use roadies, and there is nothing wrong with that.  If you said you were trying a half on a mountain bike, then it'd be tough, and you'd probably be the only one!   Kathy's suggestion to check out the race link here is a great one and maybe you can even link up with some other BT'ers are the race--there is something energizing about seeing someone you "know" and both cheering each other on during the race.

Have fun!

Looking at your logs and reading your post I think you are going to be fine and rock this HIM. Although you don't have much pool time overall you seem to get through the water pretty good. The 1.2 mile OWS will go by much faster than the 2000 yd strait swim you did earlier this week. I am sure you won't be the only one without a wetsuit and you'll be faster than a good portion of those with wetsuits.

As Kathy said, the bike is just a tool to get you through the 56 miles. If you've done centuries on it you will be fine for the HIM. Have a blast out there and smile at the riders going by you because looking at your run training you will be passing them in the run!

Congrats on signing up for the HIM, I love that distance. The main thing out there is to have fun and thank all the volunteers. Good luck!!

I ride my 1976 road bike I bought for $168.  I've thought about getting a tri bike but this is my 1st season and I don't want to spend the $ until I'm sure my knees will hold up through a winter of training.  I've been told that the LBS will rent you a tri bike for $25 a day.  You might see if you can get a rental locally.

 I have a wetsuit but do some swimming in Lake Michigan without it.  I suspect the water in SC will be warmer.

This is making me feel a little better. I had looked at past race reports for SC HIM and it sounded like everyone was wearing a wet suit --though a few did say the water was warm.  So I started to really worry. I am doing this race with people I frequently train with and they are all wearing wet suits but they keep saying "oh, you'll be fine w/out." But I have my doubts--especially they are all wearing wet suits. But then again, I won't know any different.

I was fine about my bike until someone mentioned to me that it was the wrong type of bike for this race and everyone else would be on tri bikes for the HIM distance. Again, freakout.

Thanks for assuaging my fears. I posted in my local forum if anyone else was doing this race sans wetsuit and with a roadie.

When I did Steelhead (HIM) in '06, there were 10% who didn't wear a wetsuit for the swim in lake Michigan.  I wasn't the only one riding a road bike, and there were 2-3 mountain bikes on the course. 

There will always be people that think you have to have the latest and greatest technology.  Don't worry you'll be fine.   There's a great picture floating around here of a guy in cut-off jean shorts and an old roadie for one of the ironman events.  A friend of mine did a HIM this summer on a roadie with toe clips and no aero bars - she had no problems finishing.  You've put in the training so go out there and have fun.  And just think about how cool it will be when you pass people on their tri bikes when you're on a roadie  

I think you will look far less ridiculous in no wetsuit and on a road bike doing a HIM than I will in my wetsuit and riding my Cervelo P2C in my first sprint tri.

 Just the newbie's opinion.

30 plus years old.  The bike I'm older.  I did put a pair of clip on areo bars.   2-HIM and numerous sprints. 

It's steel with only 8 gears.  I love it.   Rent a wetsuit, just make sure you practice in it.  Have fun and go nuts.

Not at all.

I would not give this issue any more thought.

Girl, I am going to be racing at the SCHIM, and no you won't look ridiculous. I can personally guarantee that you won't be the only one without a wetsuit. And last year, a dude on a mountain bike passed me, so you won't be out of place on your entry level bike. There were lots of people who were on older bikes, toe clips and all.

You'll probably even finish faster than me on my tri bike with all the accoutrements.

I'd say 30% or more of the field will be on road bikes. Really- don't worry about it.

You know, you really ought to think about taking the wetsuit off before you get on your bike. You might chafe.

Aaaahhhhh..... it all makes sense now.

For what it's worth re: the bike, I saw someone doing IM Moo on a hybrid...I kid you not.  There was another lady who had cages on her bike.

It takes all kinds.

This is all good news. I honestly wasn't worried until someone made a comment to me and then I found out everyone I knew was wearing a wet suit. FWIW I really don't want to wear a wetsuit. I've never swam in one and with all the stuff required for a tri I just think one less article of clothing to worry about would be nice.

I appreciate all the support !