I love hills, or our imitation of 'em, maybe because they're such a rare delicacy. (We sort of do have some, Queen, out by Block and towards Alto VIneyards...and wind is just as good a workout...)

I also tend to the bigger gears and until my knees tell me otherwise I"ll stick with what works. If it's a long gradual hill I'll just find a good gear and hang with it. If it's a steep mugger I'll just gradually gear down and try to keep my rhythm... but I can heave & gasp pretty well. If it's a *really* long hill I'll try to keep the gear easy enough to stay under the heaving and gasping level.

I have been known to count off the pedal strokes in waltz time so I'm not pushing harder on one leg all the time. I can always say "Okay, 10 more, of course you can do 10 more." Mantras: One two three .... or the "Punk Polka" ("Jump Jump Jump Jump Up and Down In Place, Drive A Safety Pin INto Your Face, Excuse Me While I leave the Human Race, and Do... the PUnk... Polka)