I live by the st croix so we have similar roads I would think. I have the 34-50 as well. I have an 11-28 in the back. For our smaller rolling hills, I will try to keep in the big ring and usually try to power through them with the 23. If I need to go to the 25...I should've been using the small ring.

For the steeper hills I will carry as much speed into the bottom of the hill and switch to the small ring and get into a good cadence with something in the middle in the back. The more I ride, the more I use both rings....small ring strictly climbing.