It's hilly here.... and I often need to distract myself from the rest of the hill. I'll pick a visual target a little ways up hill and tell myself "if I can make it past that telephone pole/intersection/fire plug/art car, I can be proud even if I have to walk the rest of the way up!" and then the very instant I pass it, I pick a new target.

I also like to sing or loudly recite poetry as I climb. Short and repetitive pieces work best for me, so please if you ever ride with me and catch me shouting "C is for cookie, that's good enough for me!" as I straggle up a hill - that's normal, I haven't slipped a cog. Or well.... any more cogs.

My bike doesn't have them, but I hear bar ends are great for climbing for us with the flat bar bikes.