I rode my bike set up in 1x10 for much of a season when . I just blocked out the small ring. I didn't think it was a big deal until I fixed it and got to use the small ring again. It was a relief. 53x39, 11-25, and my training is mostly (99%) flat roads and I only do big ring crits. In fact I never shift into the small ring in races because it only increases the chances of dropping my chain, even though I run a N-Gear Jumpstop, I have a well adjusted front derailleur, etc.

Also when I only had the 39x11 in that race I beat a Cat 2 sprinter who runs a 54x11 or a 55x11. He gave it a good shot apparently, I thought he simply didn't sprint. Having said that I prefer to sprint in big gears, 53x11-13 for the most part, jumping in the lower gears.