For a paceline to really work, you want to maintain the same intensity. CHarging off the front, to me, means that either you're not paying attention to the group dynamics, or you'd rather be riding by yourself, or your ego is dictating your behavior and you need to feel "better" than everybody else in the group. Maintaining speed going up a hill amounts to the same thing - you're adding a layer of intensity. If the group is up for it, fine - but that means knowing your group.

I try to pay close attention to the speed of a group I'm in (having the *huge* advantage of being on the flatlands!!) because of course you're going to increase in intensity when you're pulling, and if you overestimate how much harder you have to work, you will increase the speed. If I'm riding with relative newbees, I also try to read the folks in the group to figure out if somebody is really maxing out and won't be able to keep up; backing off just a hair can make the difference between a thrilling challenge and feeling completely blown. (If I'm not riding with relative newbees, I'm just tryin' to keep up ) So I guess I'd talk to the group about trying to have a real, working paceline... could be there are others who are also a little frustrated with it.