Originally Posted by
gsa103
Leave it in the big ring for stops. 50-29 is a plenty low gear to get started in. One of the big advantages of a compact is that you can cross-chain without issues. Especially if its only for a couple of revolutions. At an 80rpm cruise you're right in the middle of cassette which is a nice happy place to be.
At some point the OP and others are overthinking this a bit too much. If your lowest gear gets you up the hills comfortably, and highest gear gets you down, then what happens in between the extremes is not all that big a deal. I honestly have no idea what my shifting pattern is, because it's second nature. I do know that a 1x11 is simpler than a 2x or 3x system, but I don't put all that much thought into getting the bike in the perfect gear. It just kind of happens, and there are lots of techniques to overcome being a little off, including pushing harder, spinning faster, standing, etc.