Climbing a hill on an SS vs a tri bike

I love riding my SS mtn bike-I don't have to think about what gear I'm in.....however;

Your tri bike has gears on it-you should learn to use them.   SS/FG riding reguires a different kind of power output; short, intense  bursts.   If you ride your tri bike the same way in a race, your legs will be totally shot for the run.  Use the gears to maintain a steady, comfortable cadence throughout the entire race-thus easier gears when you're climbing and taller gears when you're ripping downhill. 

Good Luck!

I think it's best to be in the gear that gives you the optimum cadence for your power.  I think for most of us that's 80-100 rpm.  That being said, if it's a short hill, I often like to just mash on through.  How short is short enough is a matter of judgment, as for me I'm talking about 100-200 yards or so - just those pesky little rollers.  Anything longer than that I want to get into the right gear.  That being said, my 15-year old son shifts a lot less than I do and just mashes.  I'm scared of how fast he's going to be when he learns to shift properly.  For the record, I tell him he should shift more, but seeing as he's 15, he'll only listen to total strangers, not his dad.

Riding a single speed is about simplicity.

Riding a race bike is about efficiency. 

Sure, you might be able to hammer up that hill in your big ring, but are you better off having cashed that check now on the hill or saving some in the bank for the run?

Great quote ^^^

There is no 'better' or 'worse'.  It all depends on your goals.  If you goal is to get to the top of the hill as fast as you can, then a higher cadence will probably do that.  however, I know guys that like to train in their big gear to work on strength.