Doesn't matter.Whatever suits you or you feel more comfortable with.I do mine in all 3 gears,just so that I'm working the shifter the same everytime.Rev patt Q-stick.Had a hard time getting used to that shifter,so I try to keep things consistent.But it won't hurt your tranny to shift from 1st to 2nd under any conditions,especially when there's no real load against it.JMO