hence I GOT MY NAME!!!!! haha

Anyway...yes, get yourself a shock pump! check frequently and know your minimum/maximum pressure. I have an Fox RP3 and have had it blow out TWICE...sent it back to manufacturer to have fixed...now you may be thinking "BAD product" (I thought that too at first) but what we were told was that when the air pressure get too low it has the chance of bottoming out (no pressure at all) Both times this happened we were traveling with an elevation gain/loss of over 6,000 feet quite abit (not to mention the temperature changes between NC & FL) Since I have been keeping tabs on pressure and have had zero issues...I usually check it 2-4 times a month and ALWAYS after Ernie has sat unridden for awhile or before a long remote ride.

As for pedaling...yes, smooth pedaling will help...play with your gears if you find yourself bouncing, maybe if your geared up one or two it will be easier to pedal without that bounce. I have gotten both sides of the story from mtbers...spin going uphill & use a harder gear/work those muscles!!! Do what is comfy so try both...I do and it depends on my mood/strength whether I want to spin or mash (for a matter of speaking...always minding the knees so I am not really mashing just using a harder gear!)