The trick is to use the smallest outer ring you can tolerate. (Easy for me, since I'm a spinner who is happy with a top gear of 50/14 or 46/13, or even 49/14 or 45/13.)
I run a 48-40-28 1.5-step-plus-granny on my mountain bike, with SunTour XC front derailleur and 12-28 8-speed cassette in back, and it works like a champ. I can substitute a 24T inner chainring, but to use it I have to be very careful when executing 24-40 upshifts. Fortunately, I am old school enough that I never shifted under load to begin with, but this really reinforces good gear changing habits.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069