Jim:
I agree with you about the complexity and hassle of triples. When you consider that triples were popularized in the era of 4 and 5 speed freewheels, there really shouldn't be any reason for them when modern cassettes are 9 or 10 speeds. I have been using microdrive doubles on my modern road and mountain units with more useable gears than I ever had before. All that being said, what is there to do on a vintage bike? Personally, I think the Stronglight 99, with an 86 bolt circle diameter, is the way to go. I have just polished one up to a high gloss finish and obtained some polished and drilled rings from the UK for that vintage "drillium" look (46-28) and spread my 1972 LeJeune to 130 and will run a modern polished-finish Shimano Ultegra 9 with it. It's not meant to be a purist restoration, but with polished Mavic rims and fenders, it will be a performing rider as well as a pretty nice looker.
Jim Cushing-Murray wrote:
Probably not the answer for most classic riders but at age 62, I concluded too that a triple is the way to go. But instead of a triple, I'm using the new FSA carbon compact 110 bolt pattern cranks that are shipped with a 50x34. Weighing bottom bracket together with cranks, these cranks are over a pound lighter than my newer TA triple and shift much better. But carbon cranks would certainly look strange on a vintage
bike.
Ken Wehrenberg, Hermann, MO-- who just returned from Fat Tire Bike Week in Crested Butte where the MTB Hall of Fame was re-dedicated and permanently housed downtown after being on tour in Italy, etc, and there are pioneering vintage/historical bikes from the early MTB years on display. And, yes there was a ride on the Deer Creek singletrack for all the "oldtimers" like Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, Victor Vicente, etc.