My commute is literally uphill both on the way to work and home. Each way the route has me descending down a winding steep hill at breakneck speed into a bowl then a slow climb back up another hill to the same elevation I so gleefully departed a few minutes earlier.

I find a combination of high cadence pedaling (85-95 rpm) works good for me. I also alternate switching to a higher gear, get out of the saddle and stand on the pedals for a while.

Usually I can do switch between the two quite a few times with no effort but every once in awhile I swear I can hear Phil Liggett's distinct voice and words floating through the air "His legs have turned to rubber and his effort reduced to mere survival...."