(Not) just another bike thread

My personal opinion is a tri specific bike is not necessary at all, especially for long course.

If you're racing for podium position, that may be a different story.

My reply last night got swallowed up in re-loggin in.    

If you come from a cycling background, ONE is never the correct number of bikes (it's only slightly better than zero).  

A tri bike won't be welcome at cycling community group rides, so if that's important to you...

I did my first triathlons on a steel framed mountain bike.  

Then I got an old Raleigh Technium and added century bars.  

Then I got a deal on a Klein Aeolus (tri bike) and passed the Raleigh along.  

Then I got a deal on a Javelin Fara (road bike) and added century bars.  

I've got less invested in my bikes than some people spend on race wheels.  

I've done 3 iron distance races.  Usually, I've left the Klein on the trainer and rode the Javelin outside but ride the Klein leading up to a race including at least 1 century.  All told, I've put over 6000 miles on the Javelin and over 5000 on the Klein.  

I had a buddy suggest I should "upgrade" to a modern tri-bike, but I can state emphatically:  "The bike has never limited my performance!"  (Not even my first tri because I'd ridden 6-8 times prior to that race.)  At IMCdA, there were 2 Kleins among the 2200 participants, and I liken it to a '63 Sting Ray vs. a C6 Corvette...A new tri bike would be faster, but my Klein has character (plus history).  

My experience is I get ~+1 mph on the tri bike.  From 17 to 18 mph over 112 miles, that's 22 minutes (on a 12+ hour race).  On an OLY, bumping from 20 to 21 mph saves 3.5 minutes (on a 2:45 race).  If you're faster, the gains are smaller but more justified.  

I have three (3) tri bike, but two of them of for sale.  

1) 2001 - Cannondale Multisport 60cm - This bike is what got me hooked on the sport.  It was a little long for me so my second bike was to improve fit

2) 2009 - Kestrel Talon SL 57 cm.  - I did the professional bike fit before looking for my second bike.  The criterion my fitter gave be for stake and reach mins and max eliminated 90% of what was on the market.  This bike was the best deal I could find that fit my criterion.

3) 2011 - Blue Triad SL 56 cm - When I was looking for my second bike the only bike that I came across that fit all of the dimensions that my bike fitter gave me was a Blue Triad.  So when I found someone local selling one that only had about 2,000 miles on it that came with Flo 90 carbon race wheels for $1,600.00 I thought it might be good to have a back up for when the second bike that I had put about 15,000 miles on eventually needed to be rotated out.  Well, the Blue Triad was not the same geometry is the version I had found in the bike geometry data base previously that had fit all my ideal dimensions so I got it anyways just work with for a while to see how a superbike compared with my entry-level bikes.  I spent months trying to get me and that bike to fit each other.  It is a decent fit now after some bike modifications and some changes to my bike position. I did win the only race that I have been able to do on it with the fastest bike split of the day but the Kestrel Talon that didn't require any bike modification or change in my position is possibly a better bike for me.  I have been riding only the Blue Triad for the past 7 months since I got it.  Since I am not riding bike 1 or 2 they need to be sold.

All three of my bike are Tri bikes.  I don't currently have a road bike.  I didn't see the big deal about staying aero when I got my first bike.  I had been training for a few weeks on a mountain bike for my first Triathlon before I got it.  When I got it I went out for a long ride the first week I had it and stayed Aero for 100% of that ride.  I  pretty much rode 100% of the time every time I was on it after that.  Piece of cake, no problem.

When I got my second bike I would ride aero 100% of my time outdoors too.  I got a bike trainer after two years and on the indoor train i did a lot of upright riding.

When I got the 3rd bike I began to hate riding aero.  It was not a fun experience with a bike that did not fit me well (and I thought that the first bike didn't fit me well).  So...on the trainer, I switch from aero to upright all the time and it si just fine.  I think going from road to TT bike would be very doable as long as the TT bike is a good fit.  If the 

When I was mainly focusing on triathlon training, I had a tribike.   I rode that bike for all "training rides".  If I did other riding and I thought the tribike wouldn't work (too hilly, or a group ride) I would ride my road bike.  When training for a half iron distance tri, I even used my tribike for a long distance cycling event (not a race) so I could benefit from the training.  I just stayed away from crowds.  

There are several questions stated and possibly unstated, which I will try to answer here:

1. A tribike is great, if you can afford it.  Go for it, no need to wait until you get to a certain ability.  I would try a race first, just to make sure you like it. 
2. I did start with clamp-on aerobars before investing in a tribike.   I thought they helped a lot and I didn't know enough to get hung up on position.  They gave me a big time advantage right off the bat.  Because...
3. Aerobars offer a huge advantage in a sport where you cannot ride in a group and may be riding for a long time, so the multiple positions are great.  Lots of times when I am on my roadie, on a windy country road, I miss those bars!
4. More bikes is better than fewer bikes. Situations where you don't use a tribike:  riding with kids, riding around the city for brunch/brews, group rides in the country, riding in the snow, riding to the grocery store.  These are all things I do, so I have different bikes.    None of them are expensive, but purpose-built and worth maintaining.
5. The bike is a BIG part of triathlons, regardless of length.  I personally feel that your time is best spent improving bike fitness and all related skills and tools for the bike, such as a fast transition, tri-specific shoes, etc.  

I have since moved on from triathlon, so I told my tribike.  If I raced again, I would just make do with my roadie.  Good luck to you!