My DH surprised me with a new bike for Christmas, a Cannondale Synapse 5 carbon. It's currently on order, and I'll go in for a fitting when it comes in.

BUT...it's only a double chain ring. I've needed a triple to handle the hills of Connecticut with my old bike, plus I'm pretty overweight which doesn't help in hauling up hills. The sales lady convinced my DH that hardly anybody makes triple chain rings anymore, and that the Synapse's double chain ring would be perfectly adequate to handle the hills here.

It's been 8 years since I last bought a bike. Is it true that double chain rings these days are just as capable as the old triples? I don't have a good feeling about this. Maybe if I lose 50 pounds, the double would be adequate.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks