Originally Posted by
pressed001
From what I have read, it seems like the majority of cyclists appreciate a triple and feel that it brings them a whole lot of function and value. So, it seems to me that no longer are the engineers or cyclists at Campagnolo or Shimano making decisions regarding their product lines. It seems like the SUV driving accountants and administrators are calling the shots.
With this in mind, I wonder if it has even mattered as far as sales are concerned. Perhaps the triple is done for. And maybe I should start stocking up on those 7803's and 6703's whilst they are still out there.
I don't agree that the majority of cyclists appreciate a triple, too many of them think it gives them the wrong "image". The excuse that triples don't shift as well as doubles is often trotted out to justify their unwillingness to use them. That said, there are still many of us who see the value and utility of triples both in providing closely spaced gears and a very wide overall gear range. No double (or worse, a 1X) can do that. Shimano is reacting to what the market seems to be telling them, Campy has long since stopped caring about recreational and touring riders and SRAM is fixated on super wide doubles and 1X road and MTB stuff and has never made a triple anything.
As to available Shimano road triples, if you are going to stock up, find a couple of NOS FC-5703 cranks. Yeah, they are "only" 105 but they have a 130/74 BCD which allows down to a 24T granny ring. The FC-6703 uses a "tripilizer middle ring with a 92 mm BCD that limits you to a 30T granny.