[Ralph]

I keep a Campy 10's triple on one of my bikes. 30-42-52. Med cage rear. It's my favorite bike to ride....even if a flat ride. I just cruise in the 42. Hurt my wrist recently....and it hurts like heck to shift in front. So rode 40 miles Sunday in the 42, speeds between 12 and 25. And yes....I'm probably carrying around 80-100 grams of extra crank (but cassette not so big). I also ride a double a lot still. I have a NOS Campy Silver Comp Triple in 30-40-50 in parts bin. May just go all triple as I get even older. Thinking 28-40-50.

Triples solve most gearing problems as we age, or ride where very steep. And where you want it all. Close gearing, with a granny low. I think of this triple as being a 42-52 (my fav all time combo) with a 30 bail out. Normally run a 13-26 around here, and a 12-30 or 13-29 when traveling. It amuses me to watch the manufacturers go to all this trouble with huge cassettes, no FD, and all just to get around what already exists. At 77, I need a lot more gear to climb than I did 25 years ago....you will all get there someday (hopefully). On flat....have not lost as much.