Deciding how often to clean and lube your chain is a personal decision. The conditions where you ride will have a huge impact. So will the lubricant you use. It all boils down to knowing what a clean, well lubed chain feels like and then paying attention to when that starts to change.
Start with a thoroughly cleaned and well lubed chain/drivetrain. Pay attention to what it feels like, how it shifts, and what it sounds like. That’s your benchmark.
You’ll notice a dirty chain just doesn’t sound or feel quite the same as it does when it’s clean. Your shifting performance will suffer. And remember, any dirt, sand, grit and road debris that collects on your chain will cause it and your gears to wear.
Bike lube doesn’t tan. So if yours is turning black, it’s got a lot of gunk in it. Also, if it feels thick or gritty on your fingers, it’s time for a change. In some dry or dusty environments this will happen faster than in others. And some thicker bodied, wet-style lubes, which are better suited to wet conditions, will attract and absorb dirt faster in drier conditions. But if the lube is still clear and clean to the touch and you just want to add some more—go ahead.
You don’t have to remove your chain to get it clean. There are brushes designed to get into the nooks and crannies and degreasers that penetrate, clean and leave no residue. Some cyclists choose to use a clip-on chain cleaning device has built in brushes and a well that holds the cleanser. When you slip one of these onto your chain and close the lid on that well, bristles inside scrub the chain as it is circulated thru the unit.
Since I work for Finish Line, I can’t recommend making your own lube. There are too many specialized ingredients and too much testing that goes into making a great lube. There are many different bicycle-specific lubes out there – many of them formulated to address specific riding conditions and performance expectations.
That’s why it’s so important to experiment with what works best for you. In general, wet lubes were created for wet riding conditions. Self cleaning lubes will shed dust and debris in dusty conditions. Ceramic lubes might be right for someone seeking a high performance lube for race conditions. There are even specialty lubes for ultra-distance rides. You won’t know what works best for you, until you do a little experimenting.
If you love what you’re using, then stick with it. If your lube isn’t meeting your expectations, clean your chain and apply something different.
A final note of caution: beware of mixing different lubes. You may not get the best performance if you try putting a self-cleaning lube that has wax in it over a wet lube, for example.
Hope that helps!