Hey, for this clyde, the place, where the bike is going to get the most bang for the buck in the weight loss game, is the engine:D

I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

As for the extra weight...mine came from Guiness and Twinkies; a third ring is the least of my problems

Ah, true. Same here. Once this engine loses about 60 lbs., the bike oughta be able to just FLY!

Not if its on a mountain bike.

On a road bike, absolutely.

I know mine is much faster, down almost 75, reduced bike weight about 11 lbs and moved to smaller tires, from 38's to 700-28. Doing a 15.1 avg on my last 3 rides. I was doing about anywhere between 11 and 13.3.

60lbs would put me at about 180, 10lbs above target, would definitely make the bike run better:D

As all have already said - leave it on and if you use it, why, that is why it is there. If you don't use it - you can think about removing it.

As far as if some skinny person laughs at you - you are a clyde after all - puny Banner types tend to be polite toward us for some reason. :D

A person is not looked down on if they have a tripple. It is about how you ride. If you ride solo who cares. If you ride in groups the only concern is keeping up with the group. Use what you need. I have a bike with a triple and a bike with a compact double. I now like the compact double because it shifts better than the triple and is easier to keep in adjustment. If I had not started on a triple I would not have been able to move up to the double.

You know - nothing more needs to be said. Though I prefer "a$$clowns" in that context. ;)

Compact cranks made the road bike much nicer as far as gearing. You get a pretty good range with a 50/34 and 11-27 cassette.. I have a triple on my cross bike because there is no way I could make it some of the trails without a triple..

Personally ride with what is comfortable.. If you need the extra gearing for the hills, use a triple..

^ +1 for this advice. If you need or want a triple, there's no reason not to have one. If you live where things are completely flat (as fat_bike_nut and I do) then a single chain ring is plenty.

This winter I have ridden four days a week and come in at a cool 240lbs. With a 30 mph head wind I sure could have used a triple several times this winter. Who cares what the studs think...we always will smoke em on the down hill anyway!

faster bike
 

Or a recumbent....they are the fastest!

You're kidding, right? Keep the triple. Heck, I'd love a nice old set of BioPace road-rings! If I were ever to catch anyone snootin' at me I'd just Mad Dog 'em right back. Besides, I never usually give them any other view but from behind...

Hey, C'com - who's got the rabies there? :D

Even in Boston, where there is a very active fixed gear / custom bike subculture blessed with the certainty of youth, triples don't raise many eyebrows.