Approach the hill at a fairly good pace. You don't want to be winded, but you want your momentum to help you up the hill. You don't want to be spinning, but don't be mashing either. How's that for ambiguity?

Once you start up the hill, stay seated as long as possible Get your butt back towards the rear of the saddle so you can push with your gluteal muscles. Don't forget to pull with your opposite leg. Shift before you have to stand and while you're keeping a fairly good cadence.

If you start to run out of gears stand. Again, focus on pushing with your gluteal muscles. That means you'll be bent over rather than standing straight up. You may have to shift to a harder gear once you stand. That's OK.

If you can avoid it, you never want to start a hill standing & have to sit before you crest it. When you sit, you'll need to shift to an easier gear. If you don't have an easier gear....timberrrrr!!!

Short steep hills - I mix it up. Sometimes I stand & other times I practice sitting for as long as I can.

When you're sitting, don't hunch over. You want your ribcage expanded as much as possible so that you can suck in the air you need!

And repeat after me: Hills are my friends. Hills are my friends...