[QUOTE=Catweazle;6413490]
Some of the regular riders in a 'club ride' I joined in with the other weekend advised me to approach climbing in this fashion:

• Set the chain on a gear about the middle of the cassette.
• Use the crankset to change up and down.

Forgive me - you were there and I wasn't

But is there a possibility of a gap between what the club riders transmitted and what you received? Might they have meant
Set the chain on the middle chainring
Use the cassette to change up and down

If there is that possibility, I'd be inclined to follow the second interpretation