BlackChop... I hope your race season is going well. I was a lurker too until I actually started reasearching what I need for completing a sprint. Then I had sticker shock... so I started this thread.
Daily rental: Yet another good idea. My wife was asking the other day *HOW* can a $1000 - 4000 bike be that much better? I think that if we could BOTH rent a 'real' road bike and use it on a paved route we used the MTB on... That might be easier just showing her the differnce a road bike makes, rather than talking about 'features' and weight and frame geometry.
Congrats on the F80 -- rock on. For a budget minded tri-guy like myself I hope you got a good deal on it. :-) Sounds like you are fully hooked -- which is a good thing.
Regarding my times. Thanks.... distances were 1/4 mile swim 14 mile bike and 5K run. Although, if I had to run in the Texas heat, I doubt my times would be that good. I am already looking forward to next year.
mat