I use a triple chainring -- my Trek is officially considered to be a "loaded touring" bike. Hills. And my legs are a few decades older than yours.

I haven't run into a lot of maintenance issues on that. Replaced the chain and rear cogs a year or so back, had a shifter replaced, bottom bracket bearings, new rims,etc. The bike has upwards of 15,000 miles on it, over ten years old.