Nina (and Alex):
I know with those beautiful C50's, the shop felt a double would look best. And there is nothing wrong in a double. Take my friend Wayne for instance. He's 45 soon to be 46. He can climb hills like Newport Coast in his middle gears. Even mountain biking he seldon hits the granny chainring BUT, a double suits his style of riding. He is extremely strong, has that strength to weight ratio thing going, can ride in a high cadence even in the tall gears and he hasn't yet blown out his knees (although with all this singlespeed riding that may be coming!).
A triple doesn't mean you are weak, or old, or incapable... it just suits another style of riding. I ride in a comfortable candence most of the time usually around 85 - 90. When I hit a hill, I may drop to 60 - 70 which is still fairly high for a hill. I get into a nice rythem and just climb. If it weren't for the triple I would have to drop my cadence below 60 and most likely stand and power up most hills (I still do this for short hills like freeway overpasses but certainly can't do it for Newport Coast). Great way to blow out the knees and exhaust my energy. With my triple I can ride and ride and ride... Got up some incredible hills in Utah which I wouldn't be able to do (and still complete 80+ miles a day) without my triple.
That said, no shame in a triple - we want you guys to keep up on the hills!!!! And Record does have a beautiful triple...
And yes, Newport Coast is the hill Tracey, Audrey and Mike did...
