If you are looking for comparisons be sure that the gearing ratios are the same and you're looking at the same relative body position and terrain. I see quite a few riders in the big ring of a triple crankset using their largest cogs which is a no-no. Cross gearing is really hard on your drivetrain and leads to broken chains. The most important thing is that you ride in gears which you can drive at the proper cadance for the terrain and wind. I just started using aero bars because I'm doing a 10 mile TT every couple of weeks. I have suddenly found myself using the 50T big ring for large portions of the flat rides around my house because I can comfortably maintain a more aero position. Once I sit up or hit the hills I'm down in the middle to granny. In the mountains, I may never get out of the granny until I'm on a long downhill.

If you are doing wind sprints where you are working on max speed sprints in the shortest amount of time, yeah, you probably are going to be in the big chain ring most of the time. Serious race training programs will look at gearing this closely. If you're just looking at fitness and increasing distance, ride the gear that works for you.

SnappyPix has it right. Just keep fiddling and find the ratios that are right for you and change them with strength and fitness not because you "think" you should be in a certain gear.