Whether or not your bike...or, more specifically, your chain...needs daily cleaning on the Katy depends on the chain lube. If you use an oil based lubricant, I'd say you'll need cleaning much more frequently than with a wax based lubricant. Your tires will throw up dirt no matter what you use but your chain doesn't have to catch it.

I've ridden the Katy twice and I've ridden many other crushed limestone as well as less desirable surfaces all over the US. On my most recent tour, I rode 50 miles on the Delaware Canal tow path and my legs looked like this



I didn't clean my bike after that day nor any other day on my tour. Of the 1500 miles of that tour, I did about 1/3 to 1/2 on dirt roads or tow paths and never cleaned the chain the entire ride. There simply was no need. I also only lubricated my chain after rain storms and was able to go for at least 700 miles without applying lubricant.


Again, choose a lubricant that doesn't require you to clean. That way you don't have to spend time or effort on that particular ritual.