Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
In addition to the above, it helps to gear up when you stand
This is especially true for climbing in the granny ring. Otherwise, you can spin the gear out in one or two pedal strokes. The only time I would suggest not gearing up is if you have been slogging away in your lowest gear on a steep hill and have become fatigued and you have to stand just to keep from stopping. Then in the interest of not having my stoker yell at me and want to get off, I would leave it in low gear.