Uh oh. I may need some, I guess, aesthetic and functional advice.
Basically, the question is whether it would look ridiculous to put a triple crank on my bike-in-progress.
It is a Vitus 992 frame and the components will be all 9-speed Campagnolo Record.
As I was working out the gearing, I went to Sheldon Brown's online gear calculator and looked at the gearing I'm using now. Particularly for climbing. My current bike goes as low as 2.6 gain ratio.
I can get that using a standard double crank (a Record 53-39 is in the parts bin now) if I use a custom Miche or other non-Campagnolo cassette. I mean, like a 13-32. I'd have pretty big steps between cogs, maybe I'd have to find a long cage Record dérailleur ($$). and I wouldn't have a particularly tall gear (it would be about 8.0 gain ratio, not vastly higher than my 7.4 now.)
If I use a Record triple crank with 53-42-30, I can get a nice low gear (2.4 gain) and a tall gear (9.4) using a commonly available 11-23 cassette. I'll need a different bottom bracket and front dérailleur. If I avoid the big-big and small-small combinations maybe I can use the standard rear dérailleur (?)
A compact crank is not, I think, an option as I don't want a carbon crank or an UltraTorque crank (or to pay for one) and I don't think there was an alloy Record compact crank (?)
I don't think I see anyone here with a triple crank on a bike that's not a tourer (and mine won't be). Will it look terrible or silly? Would you do double or triple?
I have a Campy Record triple on a Mondonico built with Columbus SL, with tubulars, 13-26 Campy 10 rear end, Nitto bars, and a Selle AnAnatomica saddle. A practical go-fast!
Campy had long-cage rear derailleurs in many levels. I'm using an aluminum Veloce on the Mondo with a steel Chorus front mech. ditto for triple cranks, especially in 9-speed. Check Ebay for the Racing Triple. It's similar in design to the Veloce Compacts of a few years ago. These are a little heavier than Record, but not worse in function. I'm also using Veloce Ergopower on this bike, and Centaur dual-pivot brakes. The wheels are modern build, with Campy Record hubs, and vintage Mavic GP-4 rims, 32 holes front and rear. Overall, it still looks light, and actually is about 22.0# as described. Replacing the Selle AnAtomica with a Toupe reduces it to about 20#. Nice but not weight-weenied.
Look for pictures by BigBossman. He's put triples on a range of very hot steel bikes, and has absorbed all the expected abuse. But his bikes are still stunning.