I think he was maybe shocked that anyone would suggest you need a triple on the roads!!!.... :-P

Some advice for the OP:-

Major one - make sure you're set up properly - take your shoes off, drop one crank to the lowest position, make sure you're sat straight on the saddle (no rocking to one side), then if you have a straight leg which touches the pedals at the ball of your feet, then you are at the right height. If in time you find you get pain in the front of your knees your saddle is too low, in the rear of them it's too high. Everyone is slightly different so play around and find out what works for you (for example I prefer to be high up, well forward on the saddle, and with my feet in more of a running position than with them flat - but this is not supposed to be good for a cyclist, but it works for me).

1)Stick to it, the more time you spend on your bike the better you get. It may possibly have a good effect on your running (then again it could also be negative you have to find out what happens for yourself)

2)Use smaller gears and cadences of 90+RPM

3)But don't forget to get used to pushing big gears from time to time - this takes strength and development.

4)Spin off after hard sessions to loosen your legs off.

5)Remember if you're running hard and cycling hard you may be doing different disciplines, but you're not recovering.

6)OK it's about the rider and not the bike, but a better quality bike can make a difference (in durability, weight, reliability).

7)Consider what gears you are using as well - what's the current setup?