Lots of great info, thanks everyone. I'll see how the frame clearance is tonight and check on the model of derailleur (all I know is it's a suntour) tonight. Assuming the room is there I might as well try it out. Right now I'm running 52-40 on this bike and it's a little much for some long steep hills. I also have a touring bike that came stock as 50-46-28, I was wondering why the first two rings were so close together and what 'John E' eluded to regarding the smallest possible outside ring maybe well be the reason. Maybe I'll just pull the drive side crank off both bikes and see how the 28t plays with my 52-40 setup if I can find time this weekend. I'm getting married in 6 weeks and the planning is really cutting into both riding and wrenching/tinkering time

If the triple isn't easy or cheap to do I'll just buy a 34 or 36 chainring and hope it works with 52.