Is that you with the panniers trev?

There is this hill in Seattle called "DontRideYourTrendyFixedGearedBikeOnMe"...or maybe Interlaken. Whatever...I rode that hill and thought I was going to die a few times, but realized at the top that I rode the whole thing sitting down. I rarely de-saddle in climbs - I slide forward a bit and pull with my arms. Seems to work for me.