Originally Posted by Niloc

Hey OP and everyone else I'm looking at the TRIPLE crank differently now too. I rode a double for years on the road and figured a triple was for beginners, old folks etc. Even though I live in a mountainous area. Last fall I got a sweet new (well old lugged steel but new to me) ride with a full Campy Ergo 9-speed triple drivetrain. I had actually started acquiring 10-speed stuff for a double build, but couldn't pass up the deal on this bike. Anyways I started riding the triple and I like it! It's 52/42/30. The middle ring makes a great around town ring when not in a going-for-it go fast mood. I can just leave it in that and be covered for most situations. Rather than constantly shifting from 53 to 39t for stoplights and traffic etc I just stay in that nice handy "middle-big" 42t. And as mentioned by others, the chainline in the middle ring is such that I can use pretty much the whole cogset without worrying about trimming the FD and unduly wearing the chain or stressing the RD. I don't often use the smallest cog when in the middle ring (I'll get into the big ring by then) but I use the biggest cogs plenty. When I'm in a fast group or solo ride, I've got classic double rings like everyone used to have (52/42) and I spend more time in the big ring and basically don't use the granny and pretend like it's not even there. I've got that classic half-step gearing going. However on long rides with really big climbs, hey I've got that sneaky little 30t tucked away and I can sit down and spin if my legs get tired mashing up that big climb in the 42t middle!

I was talking to an older and really experienced mechanic / fitter and he said yep 9-speed triple, that IS the upgrade. I guess you can almost cover the same spread with a 10 or 11-speed double, but at more expense, faster wearing out of your chain and cogs and spending more time in a less than ideal chainline situation. Love the 42t!

As to the 30t yeah don't use it much but it's nice to have with the 52/42. The mechanic pointed to my rings from biggest to smallest saying "bank, bank, credit card" funny. New love for the triple, not just for the granny or the greater total spread, but because of how you can use your gears more effectively.