Triathlons are popular because of the diversity of skills needed to complete them -- each race features a swimming, bicycling and running component. Successful triathletes undergo considerable training in each of these disciplines, and serious competitors also invest in custom equipment that maximizes their advantages in competition. Tri-specific bikes are marketed to triathletes because of unique features that can aid performance, but whether you will benefit from these depends on your personal circumstances.
Conditions
In most triathlons, the bicycling stage is the second component, coming after the swim and preceding the run. The different muscles used in each event can make transitioning from one stage to the next difficult and uncomfortable -- your leg muscles, for example, will need time to acclimate to the circumstances of running after you spend so much time moving them in a circular motion.
Road Bike
Road bikes feature thin wheels and a light weight that makes them ideal for traveling on paved surfaces. They are slim and compact, the seat tube angle is generally about 73 degrees and the hand placement positions the body so that it can generate power in quick bursts, particularly on an incline.
Triathlon Bike
Triathlon bikes are a type of road bike customized more closely to the needs of a triathlon racer. The most significant difference is that the seat tube angle is steeper than on a road bike -- generally between 76 and 78 degrees, the Beginner Triathlete website advises. The modified construction of the tri-bike frame causes the bicyclist to rely more on the hamstring muscles when pedaling. This reduces the exertion of the quadriceps and helps conserve those muscles for the running portion, which will lean heavily on the quadriceps.
Considerations
If you are new to competing in triathlons and/or racing on a bicycle, it may not be worth the money for your to invest in a new, triathlon-specific bike. These bikes have advantages, but they could be marginal at best for inexperienced riders. If you don't have a triathlon bike, though, you should at least invest in a road bike -- mountain bikes or commuter bikes will be very difficult and slow to ride on paved triathlon courses, and your performance on them will suffer considerably.
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