good question! for me it depends on the ride.... the wind... and how i'm feeling!

if it's a climb... and a long one.... i'll almost always end up in my baby (granny) gear! i do train on our local hill in the middle ring..... but my cadence is not as high as i'd like it to be....

naturally if i'm coming downhill or on a really flat, flat... i'm in the big gear.... i recently did a really flat century and was in my big gear 80-90% of the ride!

on our local ride.... there are times i'm in all three on one ride! especially if it's windy! i'll be in the big ring with a tail wind.... the small to attempt to keep my cadence up for the headwind.. and the middle for other parts of the ride!

i have no ego issues with having a baby (granny) ring either.... there is no way i would have been able to accomplish the rides/climbs i did within my first year of riding if i didn't have it! i'm only getting older so i'm not willing to give it up either! i've got it if i need and and don't have to use it if i don't need it!