Wouldn't shifting front and rear at same time increase the risk of a chain drop? I'll typically run through the cassette or at least get to the same "half" of the cassette before dropping a ring and vice versa. There's always a bit of spin out though and I have to back track on the cassette right away and that's where I feel I loose a lot of momentum. I'm assuming I'm downshifting too soon for fear of fatiguing too early in the climb.

After all the riding I did last year, I did get much better. Not riding for a few months set me back, a lot.