I bought a bike with a triple after I turned 50, on the advice of Joe Friel's book, "Cycling Past 50". In the first couple years, I used the small ring a lot; then less and less, until it became my "bail-out" gear. Now that I'm starting my eighth decade (71), the small ring is there when I need it as I probably will. It's Ultegra, and works flawlessly.