I have to admit I was bewildered when people were astonished that I did a triathalon (just 12 mile bike) with an ordinary commuter bike (I hesitate to call it junky because I believe 76trombones did actually choose it.

My goal was to see if I could do it, and I didn't see the point in buying more and more expensive equipment to do it; that would not make the goal any more interesting (and not make me any healthier.)