Triple rings up front and 10 on the rear. The middle sprocket up the front can take about 6 of the rear cogs before the angle of the chain starts to get severe. Th big ring can take about 5 and the granny about 5. Do Big ring up front and use the 5 smallest sprockets' Middle ring and don't use the 2 largest or the 2 smallest rear sprockets and in the granny, Don't use the 5 smallest sprockets.

Doesn't really matter as you will hear when you are cross chaining. The rub on the deraillers will let you know. I ride with others that never get out of the big ring but use all 10. I am rarely out of the middle and use all of my 8 and Uphill it is the garanny with the big rear cogs.

Big thing I have found, is that chains do wear out. Someone that crosschains a lot will have a Knackered chain. They are also the ones that don't oil their chains and won't change them till they break either but that is another matter. All that sideways stretch on a chain is not good for it. Besides the wearing out- there is the friction involved that will slow you down. It will also wear out the cassette and the front sprockets.

Any one for a well lined up Single speed?