I do like to tinker with my effort a bit by popping up or down a single tooth.

Ok, so I'm not a fast rider, but at moderate effort at 15 to 20 MPH, I'll occasionally look down and realize that I'm cruising along in the small ring (front). I'll pop it up to the big ring. And, not gain that much speed.

I suppose I've realized that I am not nearly as tied to a single gearing as I had thought.