I'm not sure what the hype is with triples. I just picked up a Trek 1100 circle 1993 with a RSX100 triple crankset. Because of chain alignment, maybe the first 3 gears in the 7 speed cassette are usable for the big ring. The smallest chainring can access the last 3. The middle chainring has access to all of the gears with comfort. But then with the number of gear ratios that are actually usable that don't put stress on drivetrain, is it really better than a double? Perhaps my example isn't a good one since it's a lower end model thats about 25yo. Still, especially since the bike used downtube shifters, it makes choosing your gears such a tedious task.