Originally Posted by woodcraft

Cross- chaining is not really an issue with 10-11 speed as the chain is thinner & more flexible. Not ideal, but nothing bad happens. Other passionate opinions are held.

If you see a hill coming, make the front shift before getting to where there's a lot of force on the pedals.

I try to make front shifts while the back is somewhere in the middle of the cassette, but more important is to shift gently, with light pressure on the pedals,

and moderate speed turning them.

You get a feel for the gear is after a while, but looking down is sometimes needed (don't run in to anything!).