I use a 50-34 when it's dry and a 42 1x10 in the winter. The 50 works well for me as I use it for most of the commute except a 5% bridge and another hill coming home. I would never start out from a stop in the 34, better to just stand up on the 50. The 42 works OK in the winter but I do spin out a little sometimes going down the bridge and in a decent tailwind.