Hi, hoping I can get some help and varied insight. I am relatively new to mountain biking. Definately a beginner but getting better each time I go out. My fiance is an incredible mountain biker and learning to be patient with me. Because this comes naturally to him, he has a hard time explaining how to do things.

I currently ride in my granny ring on the front. If I know I'm in a long flat section or a down hill I will go to the middle ring but I'm not good at switching that ring back and forth in hilly stuff so I spend a lot of time in the higher gears of the small ring. This bugs DF because I'm putting strain on the chain -or when in the middle ring, I've got too much slack on the chain because I'm riding the smaller gears in that ring. I understand that problem but can't figure out how to correct my riding style. Do I spend time mashing the bigger gears or increase my speed pedaling in the smaller gears??? I feel like I'm stuck right in the middle of the two rings. What do I do to improve my strength??

I should say that I'm completely comfortable riding on everything we ride - single track - in the small ring. Most areas are hilly and techincal (for me) so I'm fine in these gears. He just wants me out of the small ring because of the tention on the chain?? Any way I can help??? Or should I just ride the way I ride for now and focus on not hitting the trees???