which is more difficult

My quads don't appreciate the endurance required to hammer on a bike yet - that's my most difficult.

swimming is my slowest .... just can't seem to "get it".   I know I know keep practicing

Based on my last race I almost put down transitions. I'm determined not to let that happen again so I choose running between the 3 disciplines. Running is the hardest for me because my calves always feel like their going to seize up during the first portion of the run and I bet it's hilarious to watch me run flat-footed tiny baby steps.

Swimming is much more of a bother.  You have to find your way to a suitable pool where you can do laps; usually the pool schedule conflicts with your own.  You can join a swim club but they at the most ungodly hours ... who the hell can get up in time to join a swim club at 5:00 in the morning or at 10 at night!  Cycling and running are much easier, you just open the door and GO!

Swimming is definitely my hardest. Being a long time runner, I like that the best. ( I know, I'm weird like that). And also the running fitness converted pretty well to the bike.

Chris

Pretty much the same as Chris above. I have a strong running background, and really stink at swimming. I'm a Florida girl who loves the beach, but I don't get in the water!! While I've improved greatly at swimming, it is by far the least favorite. In my triathlon when I finally finished the swim, I felt like the rest was just gravy!!

RUNNING SUCKS...well actually its just that I suck at running. I was finally starting to make some inprovement and now I am struggling with an injury...AARRGGHHHH I'm in love with my bike and I can swim just fine. I'm really not into swimming laps tho...I think its boring

For me cycling is like revisiting an old friend, I used to cycle competitively in my late teens and early 20's, running was a professional requirement when I was in the Army, got fairly good at it but pretty much suck right now.......but swimming, lord don't hurt me now........I really like to swim but I'm so hopeless at it LOL.......it's getting better but the front crawl, breathing, balance thing has me a little overwhelmed, I'm heading to a nearby lake tomorrow for an open water swim in my wetsuit just to see if I can get it together once I don't have to change directions every 25m.

Kevin

umm... wait a little... well, never thought about that, but now when i try to decide, EVERYTHING is difficult
;-)

Humm, maybe cycling, where I do not find myself so comfortable, but I like it, too.

Toss up b/t running and swimming...it's pretty bad when u suck at 2/3 of ur event. lol.

Which is pretty funny because I had run 4 marathons before I had done my first tri.  I did one more marathon and then gave in to the tri-bug.  I don't regret it one bit.

Swimming for me. I'm coming from a biking background. Plus, you get to sit down while on the bike. I figure I can always walk portions of the run. But for the swim, it's swim or drown! I just started swimming 2 months ago to train for my first tri, so I've still got a lot to learn.

Feel like a fish in the water, and ran so much as a kid I enjoy it alot. I stuggle with all the time spent on the bike and finding safe places to do my biking without getting killed.

Even though I swam competitively for three years when I was younger, I had to pick swimming.
My sister warned me before my first, and so far only, Tri (a sprint) that I would have trouble with the swim. She was right. I had to resort to the breast stroke a 1/4 way into the swim as I was exhausted. It turns out my free style is far from efficient. So I'll have to hit the pool and learn to swim the proper way. Turns out I was lifting my arms to high in the air, and she says I need to roll better, among other things. I hope to make improvements over the winter.
Oh, and the first part of the run right after the cycle, brutal! Must do more bricks!

I don't have anything at all to add to this thread--I just want to say that NYtrigal sure seems experienced, and she is a real cutie to boot. With all of her experience, let's hope she sticks around!

The races, for me, are fun.  I enjoy them.  Its all the training beforehand that is the hardest!