BITD I used road triples because there wasn't any practical alternative for the easy gears I needed. I learned to operate and set them up and it wasn't a big deal. However, with more cogs in the rear and the 46/30 crank, there is no longer much point in the complication. Even a 50/34 with a 34t cassette, standard on many new bikes, gives an easier gear than the 9 speed road triple. Not everyone is willing to make the commitment needed to be successful with a triple and current new bike specs seem to reflect that.