here's a bike question.....

i wouldn't make it too high a priority if you're comfortable on it and you plan on doing relatively short distances for a while.

The road/tri bikes will work in different ways but ultimately work better over longer distances than a hybrid bike, but the hybrid will definitely work for a sprint or a super sprint.

No you cant be competitive on a hybrid, unless the rest of the pack has a hybrid. The road and tri-bikes seriously have a significant edge in speed.

However, you can still finish with a very good time, have fun, and not go broke. You probably just wont make the podium... if that even matters to you.

If you are just doing short distances, there isnt a lot of sense in spending thousands of dollars on a new bike. Save up for a year or so and see if you are still into the sport. If it looks like a long term thing, then buy a bike with your savings.

It is highly unlikely that you will be vying for a top spot with a hybrid, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't ride whatever bike you can to race. There are plently of races where people on old school bikes or mtn. bikes who pass people on tri bikes, so it's not impossible. A lot depends on your bike skills and speed, in addition to your run and swimming ability. A lot of people do their first race in something other than a road or tri bike, so don't feel bad racing in your hybrid. Train, race and if you fall in love, then consider looking into a new/used road/tri bike.

Thank you all for your wonderfull supportive responses! I just want to try and do my best, placing will be nice  but I don't expect it at the beginning. I also don't want to look like a fool with everyone smoking by me on thier road bikes and me on my hybrid.  (Happened at the last race, I had a good lead at the end of the swim and lost it all in the transition and the bike!!)

Welcome to the cult I mean club. My guess is that with your current experience even if you were riding a state of the art tri bike you would be passed by the others anyway. You may look cooler getting passed if you were on a P4, but you would probably be passed either way. The bike itself won't make you that much faster. A well fit tri bike will make you more comfortable and may allow you to transition from the bike to run better, but will not put you on the podium.

All that being said... I say develop the motor (while saving your money) to the point where you are passing the cool tri bikes on your hybrid then smoke em all on your new tri bike next year.   

Kevin