All you really need to compete in your first triathlon is a pair of shorts, swim goggles, running shoes and a bike. Most triathletes start out with a mountain bike or older used 10-12 speed to see if they like the sport before making an expensive road bike purchase. If you're planning to use a mountain bike, pick up a pair of road tires (unless it is an off-road race). The amount of friction caused by knobby tires on the road will make for a much more difficult, slower ride than road (slick) tires. If you are using an old road bike, make sure you bring it to a shop to get tuned & checked out. Yes, they may make fun of you a bit about your old wheels but you can tell them that if they do a good job on your bike and you like the sport you'll probably be back to break the bank on a new bike at some point.

Buying your first bike
There's nothing mechanical that you have to rely on for the swim or the run, but the bike is a critical piece of equipment that you need to be able to count on. Road bikes are not cheap, for the most part you really get what you pay for. A mistake that many others make is to rush out and buy an "entry-level" bike brand new for $500 - $700. There is a good chance that you will outgrow one of these bikes in a year or so and you'll have made an investment that will end up on Ebay. You may want to consider searching Ebay yourself looking for a used entry-level bike at a much lower price and saving some money towards a high-end bike in another 1-2 years. High-end bikes usually start at $1200 and can go as high as your wallet can handle. Lighter components get extremely pricey and utilize materials such as carbon fiber and titanium; these can break your budget and do not provide much (if any at all) of an advantage for a beginner. All you need to start is a bike that fits your size and is somewhat dependable. You DON'T want to train for a race only to have your bike break down on you right in the middle.

What to look for in a used bike
If you're shopping for a used bike online, there is a lot you need to know going in. Finding the proper size is an imperfect science, but sice seatposts and handlebars are adjustible you can be happy by being close to your ideal size. Most bike copanies have a website that offers a sizing chart, so if you are looking at a used Specialized bike for example, you'd want to go to www.specialized.com and compare the bike for sale to your body dimensions according to their chart. The most important number to check is the "stand-over" height, which is the distance from the top bar to the ground; this should closely match your inseam (pant leg) size. Unless you are very small you should stay away from a 650cm-wheeled bike and go with the traditional 700cm wheel. This is the most common size, but be aware when you buy a used bike and don't get fooled into buying the wrong size. Caveat Emptor! (Latin for "Let the buyer beware") Ask for advice before you buy a bike, a good place to start would be in our chat forum.

Your first bike: buying vs. building
On the surface, building your bike component by component may seem like a good idea, it may even seem cheaper than buying a complete bike. IT ISN'T. Unless you have a lot of time, a full wallet and plenty of hair to tear out when you make a mistake then don't build your own bike. Building a road bike is not like assembling a Huffy bike on your birthday as a kid; it requires special tools and a great deal of knowledge. On that note, it's always a good idea to spend $50 to get whatever bike you buy checked out at a bike shop - they can adjust it properly and spot any potential problems.

Swimming gear
You'll need a pair of swim goggles, a $10 pair will work fine. The most important thing is that they fit your face properly and don't leak. DON'T wait until the race to try on new goggles; you should already have swam with them and adjusted them prior to the race. You'll get a swim cap at the race, so you won't need to buy one. If the race is wetsuit-legal, then you should seriously consider using one. If you're not an extremely strong and fast swimmer then the advantage of using a wetsuit is immesureable. A proper triathlon wetsuit will make you much more buoyant and able to conserve energy during the swim. With the wetsuit you can worry a lot less about staying afloat and completing the swim, and you'll also have less drag through the water.

Running gear
It is very important to have a comfortable pair of running shoes that don't chafe your feet. If the shoes are prone to giving you blisters in training then you should invest in a new pair, just make sure you break them in before the race. If you are new to buying shoes, I highly recommend stopping by a full-service shoe store like Fleet Feet. Don't buy a pair of running shoes based on how cool they look or if they are on sale; it is VERY important to get shoes that don't hurt your feet, knees, shins, etc. Be prepared to spend $80 & up for the right shoes, comfortable running shoes are worth every penny.

Let's face it; almost anyone can complete a triathlon. As long as you can complete the swim, you should be able to ride the bike leg - even walking your bike up hills if you needed to - and walk/jog/run the final leg. It is important to be in the right mental frame of mind to compete in your first triathlon and keep your wits about you. Most first-timers are intimidated by the sport and usually scared about one particular leg of the event.

Swim: For a lot of people, the swim can be the leg that frightens most people. Simply put, you're likely to be in the most danger during the swim; there's usually nowhere to stop and rest. All triathlons have some lifeguards and/or helpers in kayaks for the swim leg to help you if you are truly in need. It is very important to be comfortable in the water and not panic if you get kicked, have a cramp or get tired. If you panic in the water you make it MUCH more difficult for yourself to get control of the situation. The amount of time you spend in the water is about 1/5 of our day, so you don't want to waste all your energy by thrashing in the water because of nerves. Also, don't start out too fast on the swim, pace yourself and pay attention to the course.

Bike: The most important part of the bike leg in your first triathlon is to be aware of your surroundings and keep yourself under control. There's a big difference between a "bike ride" and a race; there are experienced riders who are blazingly fast and will be tearing by you at high speeds. Follow the rules of the event, they usually require you to stay as far right as possible unless you are involved in passing a slower rider. After you've passed, move back to the right when you are clear of thst rider. You NEVER want to ride on the left side of the lane if you are not involved in a pass; you are a danger to yourself and other faster riders behind you. Be attentive of other riders; they may not be as courteous as you are but it is everyone's responsibility to keep a race safe.

Run: Once you've hit the run the finish line is in sight. Whether you're a great runner or not, you still need to pace yourself when you start the run. You should be a little tired (if not toatally gassed) by this point, but you can finish as long as you listen to your body. If you need to rest, then walk for a little bit - almost everyone does at some point in their careers. There's a common point of discussion whether it is actually better/faster to run for 5 to 10 minutes and then walk for 30 seconds to a minute. Some people swear that the benefit of resting your legs and lungs far outweighs the time spent walking. Try it out for yourself on training runs and see if it works for you.

Finish Line: If you start to waiver during any part of the race, just think about how wonderful it will feel to cross the finish line. The sense of accomplishment in completing your first triathlon - no matter what your time is - will change your life. You're now officially a "triathlete" and you'll wear that distinction with pride for the rest of your life.

Training is very important, and we've devoted an entire section of this website to training plans for different triathlon distances as well as marathon running. Consult that area for specific workouts and information that you need to know to prepare your body for competing in a triathlon.

A word about training: You really NEED to be prepared for a triathlon, especially the swim. It is not recommended for anyone to sign up for their first triathlon without spending at least a few weeks - minimum - training in a pool. You may have swam as a kid, but you have to do some lap training prior to the race; you should at least swim the same distance of your race without stopping or putting your feet down. During the race you can tread water, but that uses energy to stay afloat. For your own sake you need to be ready for the swim and you can only get there by swimming laps in training.

During the race you will have plenty of time to think to yourself; heck - your mind will wander all over the place. If you have set a goal you'll have something to keep you focused. For your first triathlon, it is a mistake to make any time your goal. There are so many things to learn that have the possibility to slow you down (Have you ever ripped off a wetsuit while you were trying to run?) that your time is really not important for your first race. It's also a mistake to look at other people at the starting line and say "I bet I can finish before her/him". You're not competing against anyone else, triathlon is a competition with yourself. I've looked at other races and just assumed I was faster or fitter than them and I've been wrong, and it drove me nuts when they blew right past me.
For your first triathlon you really need to savor the experience and your only goal should be to finish the race and fall in love with the sport. Hopefully there will be a lot of other races in your future for you to go faster, or finish higher - you only have one shot to experience the race as a newbie - so enjoy it.