Originally Posted by patrickgm60

I've been road biking for 1-1/2 years, now. I don't plan to race, but I am riding hard and often and enjoy the competitive group rides. I'm considering replacing my entry-level CF bike with a new Spec. Roubaix. However, the model I like has a triple crankset. I've heard several rides berate triple cranks as being "weak," "cheating," etc.

Is that a common opinion among road cyclists? I live in a hilly area and at the end of a hard ride, I often wish I had a couple of smaller gears, so I know the triple is "right" for me. I just don't want to be exiled from my group.