probably a bit of everything you mentioned. I have shram x7 shifters. They are fine on the rear gears but shifting up to the middle ring on the front is a big and slow shift. Doing this while navigating a down hill is hard. Then - shifting up twice to shift to the middle gear (pedaling in the higher two gears while I shift down to the small ring) uses up my energy so that sometimes I actually come to a stop and most of the time I'm just too tired to make it to the hill. It's easier to just stay in the small ring.

When I have long periods in flat stuff or steap hilly stuff I will change rings but when it's more frequent I have real problems. I'm sure it's a bit of anticipating. Trying to ride while doing the shifting - over roots, turns and dips. I don't know if it's an experience thing that will come with time or if there is an easier way I should be doing this.

Thanks - I'll go introduce myself now