Triathlon - specialized tricross for sprint triathlons

I'm new to biking and new to sprint triathlons. I was wondering if this would be a good all round bike for sprint triathlons and olympic triathlons. My wife and I are thinking of getting into these but will never go the ironman route. We looked at this for its versatility and still having the ability to pull the kids on the trailer behind us. Any suggestions on this bike (specialized tricross) or any other bike that would fit this scenario. We would be primarily using these bikes for liesure riding and I may commute to work every once in a while. Thanks...

Will it work? Of course. It would be a great way to start. Maybe some day you will want to get a dedicated race bike, but until that day comes this is fine.

For race time you may want to put on some slick tires. Me, I'm not a fan of the cantilever brakes on a cross bike but thats just me. Why did you pick this bike in particular. If you're just commuting and pulling the kids, I don't see how a cross bike would be any more versatile than a standard road bike like an Allez.

I agree with above for the most part, I disagree that it would be a very good option for you. It will work, but if you become competitive (and after your first tri you might) you will wish you had saved your money for a bike designed for speed on the road. Consider the Allez, Cannondale CAAD-9, or something used (possibly even carbon on a similar price point) Right about now the 2010s should be coming out, so you might get some very good deals on 2009 bikes.

As for commuting and pulling kids, i know a doctor in my area that pulls his kid on a $4500 carbon racing bike. I don't quite get why a cross bike would be better for this. Commuting can be done on anything from a 1978 Schwinn Varsity to a $12000 Storck, you get there either way.

Thanks all, like I said I'm new to biking and know nothing. I'll check out the Allez as well. I saw it in the store but looked right over it. Right now I have two specialized mountain bikes and I guess I'm a little weary of giving up all off roading with a road bike. I figured the cross would still enable me to at least go on the dirt/gravel trails while maintaining the durability of everyday travel/pulling kids etc and was hoping that it wouldn't be too bad for the tri's. You know, looking for the all in one bike. Thanks for all the advice!

Thanks all, like I said I'm new to biking and know nothing. I'll check out the Allez as well. I saw it in the store but looked right over it. Right now I have two specialized mountain bikes and I guess I'm a little weary of giving up all off roading with a road bike. I figured the cross would still enable me to at least go on the dirt/gravel trails while maintaining the durability of everyday travel/pulling kids etc and was hoping that it wouldn't be too bad for the tri's. You know, looking for the all in one bike. Thanks for all the advice!

Well being that you already have the Mountain Bikes, use them for that, and get a separate road bike. Its really near impossible to get it all in one without some compromises. And being that you already have Mountain bikes, they are compromises you don't have to make.

Try a set of slick tyres for one of your MTB wheel sets.

Do a couple of sprint triathlons with that wheel set.

Then decide what you want to do. By that stage you'll know if triathlon is for you, if you want to do crit racing/road racing or whatever you might want a different bike.

That way, the only expense is a set of slicks that you'll end up getting plenty of use out of. I'm all in favour of people coming into the sport and learning from my mistakes - i.e. not buying the wrong gear to begin with.