Originally Posted by
bikingjerome
Did you read my earlier post when I said that it is not a uniform hill? The slope keeps changing gradually so I can't always forsee the gear I am under. I believe that's what so many gears are there for to begin with. So that you are in one gear and if it's starting to get heavy you get into a lighter gear and vice versa.
Isn't the traditional advice to ease up on the pedals just the teeniest bit upon shifting to take some of the load off? That seems to mean that you might be trying to shift while mashing, maybe better to shift while you are still spinning comfortably before your cadence drops off too much?
But I agree if something is not fun or totally uncomfortable for someone, they should do what is more comfortable as long as it is safe and gets the desired results...