I want to get started biking and competing in some triathlons, but I'm not sure what kind of bike to get to start off. I'm really competitive and could see myself becoming serious about triathlons, but I also want to be able to go out for long recreational rides with friends. Someday I'd even like to bike across the U.S.

I have talked to a couple of shops, and one recommended the 2004 Cervelo One, an entry-level tri bike. Another recommended the 2005 Specialized Allez Elite. I've talked to a friend who is really serious about triathlons (and biking in general, but mostly tri), and he said he'd recommend going with the One, as it would be more versatile between just going out for long road/group rides and actually competing. I'm leaning in that direction now, but I was hoping to get some insight from more people on those bikes specifically, and also generally on triathlon vs. regular road bike geometry.

I think you should buy or borrow a used road bike to start with. Dropping serious coin on a bike when you don't know which way you are going to leap sounds limiting.

The diffferences are the slower steering on the tri bike and the steeper seat tube angle. My understanding is that the steeper seat tube angle is an adaptation to time trialing and running afterward.

We have some triathletes who do hard training rides with us on Quintana Roos and the Kestrels that don't have the seat tube. They do not seem to find the triathlon geometry to be a disadvantage.

I wouldn't go used. You need to get something that fits. Plus, it's nice to ride a new bike. The Cervelo is a good choice. You can always sell it if it doesn't work out.

I haven't competed in a triathlon for years, but both my memory and my exposure to some TV coverage would suggest starting with a road bike. I have seen a lot more road bikes in triathlons than tri bikes in road races.

I train with many triathaletes - most on our club ride this morning are. There are also a number of locals who have completed the full iron man in Hawaii. They all train on road bikes. You are better off getting a good road bike, and take your time as you work towards triathalons deciding what kind of ride you are going to use. Many of them, BTW, use their road bikes in Triathalons. The Allez, is a super bike.

Another thought - if you want to compete in organized road races -a great way to train - your tri-bike may be "illegal."

I started the same way - signed up for a olympic triathlon with some friends, did a couple of sprints while gearing up for it, and then got hooked on cycling. I borrowed a bike for the first season (which in my family was required to convince my wife that I needed to spend $2K on a bike for a new hobby).

I would strongly recommend getting a road bike. Everyone who has a tri bike also has a road bike (but not the other way around), and I assume you'd feel the same way shortly after purchasing a tri bike.

Put aero bars on your road bike for a season or two, and then decide if you need another bike.

Road bike first. TT bike is just too specialized. Just about anyone knowledgeable about the geometry involved will tell you this (train on road for most of the year).

Ok, so I hear a lot of people saying go road to start out, which make sense, and which is actually what I originally planned to do when I started this whole process. One reply directed me here though: https://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/difference.shtml

It seems like a very comprehensive article about the difference between the two, and based on the bold stuff at the end, it sounds like a tri bike is more what I want to do - training rides solo, or maybe with one or two other people, plus triathlons. Any counter comments?

Yes, get on a tri specific (steep geometry) bike and ride 40 miles, then do the same on a road bike. Both bikes must fit you correctly!! That will answer your question much better than any of us can.
Good Luck
P.S. Go to Slowtwitch.com. They do a survey every year of the bikes ridden at IronMan Hawaii and go into great detail. You'll be surprised at how many hard core triathletes are riding converted roadbikes i.e. the seat posts turned around, whatever. And it is the tri site.

A road bike with clip-on aerobars is what I see begginer triathletes start with. Many use an Allez Elite.

my opinion is that aero bars clamped onto a road bike is like putting a rear wing on a front wheel drive car.

looks cool to some, but a waste of weight and money.

the geometry to lean forward onto the aero bars is just all wrong on a road bike.

there's nothing wrong with doing tris on a road bike, but my time in a sprint distance tri improved by 5 minutes, the first time I used my dual.

half that time was improvement on the bike, and even more exciting, half in the run .

tri bikes really do save your legs.

if you want to do tri's, get a tri bike.

Cervelo soloist would be a good choice. Its plenty aero, road legal, and you can fix up the seatpost for tri geometry.