It gives you a lower q-factor. Check your chain stay clearance first, though I doubt you'll have a problem with a 22 or 24 inner ring. You can use a standard road triple crankset and fit a 24 ring on the inside. This is more expensive than buying a mountain crankset and keeping the stock rings, but the possibility is there. I'm a bar end shifter user. One vote for the Dura Ace bar ends. Mine have survived a number of crashes.