Quote Originally Posted by yellow
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What cog are you on in the rear?

Finally, always look ahead. If it looks steep, get on the small chainring. And if it ends up not being all that steep, there's no crime in spinning up in a higher gear on that chainring (unless of course you're one of those "triples are for wimps" types...refer to my post of a month or so ago re: the Ode to my 30x27).
Hey yellow thanks for the tips, here are the answers to the questions above.

Only a couple up from the easiest and then I keep changing down until I need to go to the smaller ring on my triple. This is only when I have had a run up the hill from a nice flat or a previous descent, if Im starting the base from a stop sign etc I always start in the small ring it is just too hard for me to start in the middle ring.

2nd Answer.
No definitely not a triple is for wimps type here. I dont think I could survive without my triple. My knees are not great from years of running and I find I use the smallest ring a lot on my triple for taking off from stop signs as this seems better for my knees. Is that a bit odd? I never hear people talking much about the smallest ring on a triple except for on hills.