I use a triple on my Race Bike.
I hear you say ! Its got sweet F.A to do with looks. I don t drive and sometimes find it hard to cadge a lift, which means I ride to alot of my local events,which sometimes can be upto 1 1/2 hours away. The triple allows me to do this. Add to this the fact there are some rather large hills around here.
Years ago (in the south -east anyway) my father tells me all "men" did it that way. There s no "rules" only fashion.
I use a double on my training bike for other reasons 53/42 with a 12/25 cassette. The triple is a 53/39/30 with either 12/23 or a 12/25 depending on event.
Who on earth in their right mind would want to use a gearboxes with wide ratios when they could have three with close ones.
The reason a lot of roadies frown on them is it comes from the world of mtb " and that would never do! wouldn t be seen dead and all that".
If your that much of a style Icon that you hate the look of rear mechs ride asingle speed.
Oh and by the way as some of you know the race bikes got S60s as well so put that in your pipe and smoke it.