Originally Posted by
datlas
Based on what you describe, just use your road bike.
That's what I do. And I end up passing lots of tri-freds in their TT/Tri bikes.
Now if you are aiming to podium, you may wish to get a TT/Tri bike...but if you are a "crappy" runner there's no need.
BTW I know there is some anti-tri sentiment here, but to be honest most tri folks don't take themselves nearly as seriously as roadies.
Enjoy it.
Triathletes have the built in 'get my butt kicked by single-sport athletes' built in.
I have a running background and usually have one of the top run splits in a competitive age group, but all I need to do is enter a pure running race that's more than local and I get blown away by the top 10 guys in my AG as a pure runner.
In the pool, 12 year old girls kick my rear easily and I'm not slacking much on the swim training. You just need to put in those 2 hrs / day, 6-7 days per week, that I don't have the time to do.
And in cycling, my FTP watts are probably just more than half of the 450ish that the pros put out. Ridiculous.