You can start by searching the classified section of this site and beginner triathlete dot com. I'd be on the lookout for small or XS bike sizes.

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Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

For your first bike, I would suggest getting a road bike and not a tri bike.
To be honest, your $600 budget is a little low, but you may be able to find something used. However, you need to be careful with used bikes. You should go browse a few bike stores in your area, maybe they will have some cheaper used bikes for sale... or maybe some deals on bikes from last year's models.


Just an example.... http://www.feltbicycles.com/.../ZW-Series/ZW95.aspx
This is Felt's ENTRY level women's road bike and it's already $899. You can browse through all the other bikes there to get a feel for the price ranges.

After you do your first race, you're probably going to love it! That happens to everyone who does a triathlon lol. And I guarantee you'll want to go out and buy a nice road bike almost immediately. So wait for that feeling after the race, and you'll be more inclined to want to spend good money for a decent bike that you'll enjoy riding.


Once you gain more experience maybe you'll want to save up money for a new triathlon bike!
http://www.feltbicycles.com/...-TRI-Series/S22.aspx

Finally, use this chart to figure out what size you need to ride:
http://www.feltbicycles.com/...ort/Bike-Sizing.aspx

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http://pandaspov.blogspot.com/

Agree-get a road bike, not a tri for first bike, and spend as much as you can afford, or get second hand...but get a road bike first...so much more you can do there...Ive done tris for over 10 yrs and do not have a tri bike

I'll be the dissenting opinion and say get whatever bike you want (within your budget and size parameters, of course). My first bike was a tri bike, and it was never an issue. I reasoned that even if I didn't do any tris, it still functioned perfectly well as a "road bike". It wasn't until several years later that I bought a road bike.

Personally, the best solution for me is having multiple bikes...but if I only had one, there's nothing wrong with it only being a tri bike. The added bonus is, since that's the only bike I had, I got VERY comfortable on it. Some people find the switch from road to tri to be awkward and it takes a lot of adjustment. Not a worry if you start out on one.

That being said... I would go try a few bikes at shops. get an idea which sizes in which brands/models fit you. Then look on the interwebs and get the measurements of those bikes. That way, when you look at used bikes, you can compare the dimensions/stats.

At 5'5", I'd GUESS you'd be a small or somewhere around a 51-53, but it really does vary from bike to bike. (Fwiw, I am about 5 inches taller, and there are some brands where I can ride a 51, so like I said, it varies).

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mmm-mmm-Momo Charms
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Great tri bike was great for you, but wanted to also point out maybe think about what kind of riding you think you might do? If mainly tris/riding with other triathletes etc then fine...but lots of local rides (where I live anyway) will not allow tri bikes on group rides

This calculator can help you figure out what size bike to look for:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/...FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

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No coasting in running and no crying in baseball

That was my point--a road bike as a first bike isn't the only option. You have to consider what you want out of it.

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mmm-mmm-Momo Charms
Handmade beverage charms, jewelry, and miscellanea
http://momocharms.wordpress.com