g'day cole,

you need to practise so that you are comfortable climbing both in the saddle & out. On long climbs you will notice that the large majority of pro's will use both. Climbing out of the saddle allows you to use your body weight to assist your legs on the 'down stroke'. The majority of your weight should be 'over' the crank as it goes down. Your arms also come into play when climbing, moreso than at any other time. In the saddle with your hands on the top of the bars, you would be 'pulling' back toward yourself. out of the saddle, hands on the 'side' of the hoods, (or fingers wrapped around between the brake & the hood top), you would be pulling 'up' toward your chest. As one of the other posters mentioned, its important to go 'over the top' at a reasonable pace, don't start your recovery as soon as you reach the top...thats what down hills are for!,

cheers,

Hitchy