Fitness and strength are the main factors that influence a triathlete's performance but equipment is the next key area where improvements can be made. You will obviously complete a distance faster on a specialized triathlon bicycle than you would on a store discount, non-specific racing bike. A triathlon specific bike will make any triathlete, regardless of their level, faster. Money wise however, you will need to invest more on your triathlon bike. On average, the power produced to pedal a bike on a flat road is 60% rider drag. This is, obviously, where the biggest performance gains can be achieved. If you are serious about triathlon, you need to be selecting the best, most efficient equipment that you can afford for your triathlon cycling needs.
Road bikes are generally designed for comfort to allow a cyclist to compete over long distances. The triathlon cycle is generally over a shorter distance (relatively) and so some comfort can be compromised in exchange for speed. This is the fundamental difference between triathlon bikes and road bikes. The shorter the distance of the triathlon cycle, the more weight and aerodynamics will come into play. For a sprint triathlon, 20k, comfort is far less a factor than for an Ironman distance as for the Ironman, comfort becomes paramount to continual optimal performances over long periods of time. When looking for a triathlon bicycle, consider the distances you will be competing in and correlate this with the budget you have available. I highly recommend that, if your budget is tight, you consider purchasing a used triathlon bike. They are normally well looked after and cared for and normally only for sale by an experienced triathlete who is upgrading so as to compete in longer events. A general assumption can be made that if a person is disciplined and driven enough to train for and compete in a triathlon, will take meticulous care of their triathlon bike.
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