Originally Posted by
alan s
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.
I've got to admit, as far as commuting goes I'm with you. I don't own any bikes with a triple any more, and I really don't miss it. I've got a low enough gear for the hills I face and a big enough gear for the speeds I want to go and beyond that I don't care all that much. But I'm not riding anywhere near the speeds some folks are reporting in this thread, certainly not when I'm commuting! Plus I'm often carrying a couple of panniers and a good portion of my ride takes place on a MUP.
Different strokes and all, but for me, commuting on my bike is more about doing a fairly leisurely ride, maybe running a few errands/some shopping en route and just clearing my head and putting a smile on my face. I honestly have no idea what my shifting patterns are!