Originally Posted by bkaapcke

This year I decided to try a new regimen. When the two chains (recumbent) were new, I completely removed the factory gunk. Since then I have wiped the chain clean with a dry towel after each ride and added lube after every three rides. I lube it by wetting a spot on a washcloth with pro-link and wipe the chain with it as I rotate it. After a few minutes, the chain is re-lubed and lots of the black gunk had come out onto the washcloth. Sure, the innards aren't perfectly clean, but they would be dirty again within 5 miles anyway.