Anyone ever regret buying a triathlon bike?

What kind of riding do you prefer, solo or group rides?  I don't regret buying a tri bike at all.  I'm not a big group riding person at the moment and prefer doing solo rides when and where I want and at whatever pace I feel like riding.  I also find tri bikes more comfortable for longer rides.  I don't think your size is any factor at all.  I think the key is get fit first so you know what bikes will fit.  I poorly fit tri bike is worse than a good fitting road bike.

I did IM Cozumel in 2010 and LOVED IT so great choice.

I'm about the same size as you, and I was also hesitant to buy a tri bike for the same reasons.  The one area where fit was tricky for me was in the aero bars.  I'm wide shouldered, and when I first started riding it with the stock aero bars, I found that my upper arms started to ache from the elbow pads being too close together.  It just wasn't a natural position for me.  Even with adjustments, I just couldn't get the elbow pads wide enough.  The trick was to find an aero bar combination that allowed me to have my elbows far apart and my wrists closer together to form a "triangle" that was not stressing my shoulder and elbow joints.  This was the point of contention for my comfort level.  To illustrate what I'm talking about, while sitting at your desk, just lean forward and rest your elbows on the desk about 6" apart, and extend your forearms so they are parallel to each other.  This is close to the typical aero bar position based on all the bars I looked at, and extremely uncomfortable for me.  Now move your elbows further apart (about 10 to 12"), and leave your hands closer together, (about 3") to form a triangle.  Feel a difference?  For me, night and day.  So after tons of research I found an aero bar combination that allowed me to get in that position (it wasn't easy but I found the needle in the heystack).  This was the one thing that made the biggest difference in my comfort level on the tri bike. 

One other point...  just like on a road bike where you can ride in the hoods or the drops, you can always sit up and ride the bullhorns on a tri bike to give yourself a break if you start to feel uncomfortable.  Then drop back into aero when you're ready.  As your body adapts to the positioning, and as you get more confident, you'll eventually find yourself spending more time in the aero position.

I also own a road bike and ride both regularly... 

If you ever plan on doing group rides (including some bike rallies that don't allow TT bikes), I'd stay on a road bike as it gives more flexibility IF you can only have 1 bike.

I did my first tri season on a road bike and quite honestly, I'm only marginally faster on my TT bike (less than 1mph). While there are others who have gained 2-3 mph switching bikes from road to TT, mine wasn't the case.  If you get fit, and get the flexibility and core strength to get fit into a good aggressive position on a road bike (that you can hold comfortably), then you will be pretty close to your TT bike potential anyway.  I ride my TT bike on the trainer, a pre-race check-out ride, and the race itself (I have several bikes so I do most of my road rides on a road bike).

Keep in mind that you will have to get used to a TT bike so that needs to be part of the equation.

Absolutely not!  and I have two!

I think I'd regret it if I sold one.  Although, if I replaced one with an upgrade I wouldn't be too sad. 

I'm in the same boat as you Keba.  I love my road bike but I have been considering getting a tri bike for a few months now.  I'm 6'2" and about 185.  Not to long ago I was 240.  My speed on my road bike has improoved so much from last year but I just started this sport in May of 2011 and losing 50+ pounds probably afffected my speed more than anything.  I'm allowed to have two bikes (per my lovely wife in case you are reading this honey), but I have no idea what to buy. 

This was a good thread to read.  Thanks for posting the question.

I regretted buying a tri bike, only because I bought a low-end aluminum frame one that didn't have shifters on the aero bars.  A Trek Equinox 5.  It nowhere compared to the mid to higher end ones in speed or comfort.

Tri bikes are, IMO, much more comfortable on the aero bars than a road bike.  However, they don't necessarily handle as well.  If you can keep a road bike, then there is no reason to avoid a tri bike.  If you have to choose between them I would consider the type of riding you do, how much is in a group, how confident your handling skills are, among other things.  

But you didn't ask for advice.  You asked about regrets.  My one regret happened today. I recently crashed and my confidence is a little shaken.  The wind was really gusty and I freaked every the wind would blow.  My tri bike has very deep aero shapes and is very, very light.  It can be tough to handle, especially in a cross wind.  I didn't consider that implication because I have traditionally high winds have been no trouble.  However, I lost 30 lbs this year and suddenly I can't control the bike in the wind.  As solid as you are, there is probably no issue there.  

I started with a road bike, then bought a P2.  I thought to myself that I would ride that bike all the time and it would be my best friend in the whole wide world.

It's pretty much collecting dust right now.  Of course I use it for tri races and TTs, but I rather ride my aluminum road bike than my carbon P2.  There isn't anything wrong with the fit, and I'm much faster on my P2...I just prefer riding my road bike.

I'm 6'4" 240lbs on a 58cm Felt B16. Glad I wend to the LBS because I would have purchased a bike probably to big for me, which I didn't think was possible. It took a little getting used to but I can honestly say I'm comfortable on my bike

Also FWIW I tried aero bars on my 60cm Cannondale road bike and didn't like them either. The fit is very important with the aero components

I ride in groups most of the time, so I love my roadie with clip ons. 

If you are asking about regrets from a tri purchase, you have only to look on Ebay for bicycles where by far the majority of bikes for sale are tri bikes.  I think a lot of people think they want to do it, buy the bike and then find the comfort level takes too much time, or they just don't like it and...up for sale it goes.

"I wish I'd never owned this properly fitted tri bike."

-no one ever

If you can keep the road bike I very seriously doubt you will ever have a regret of making the purchase.  This year was the first year I rode a tri bike and I loved it.  I have put 1900 miles on mine while training for HIM's but now I am back to riding my roadie.  Both serve purposes, both have benefits.  Try to utilize both of them throughout all of your training.

This is me 100%  My shoulders bother me the most on long rides.  And my pads are as wide as they will go as well.  Do you mind sharing what your solution was? 

I'm looking at a 140.6 in 2013 and one of the things on my list to have complete before I'll do it is better aero comfort...

To the OP, I'm 6'1" and I did a 70.3 at 240 and with the exception of my aero bars, the rest of the fit was very comfortable....Getting on the horns once in a while to mix things up helped...

If you get a good fit you'll be fine.  Oh, and make sure to follow Siberian's advice, wish I had known to push the LBS for a better solution to my aero bars before I purchased..