First off do you have fenders? I found that when I 1st got my bike I didn't have fenders, and the front crank and chain were getting lots of road grit on them. After I put on a good set of fenders the chain has stayed remarkably clean.

I ride just about every day through just about any weather and live not far away in Buffalo NY so we have very similar climates. I lube my chain every month during the Summers, and maybe every other week during the Winter. If I've been out in some truly dreadful stuff, like snow that is sticking to my entire drivetrane, or heavy rains, I'll lube the chain again the following day.

I don't have any special cleaner tool. I just spay on some PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench (I have either one laying around for wrenching on the cars). Either one of these are penetrating lubes that will also help wash off some of the surface junk. I then use an old rag that I also spray some lubricant on and wipe the chain as clean as I can get it. I then use apply some bike chain lubricant. I had be using Pedros ICE Wax, but read various comments that SYN Lube was better for the very wet conditions of Fall through Spring. So far I've used it only once (last week when I bought it) and it did make the already smooth shifting and riding chain een quieter. So far I've gone nearly 1900 miles and there is no sign yet that the chain is "streching." Aftrer a heavy rain storm I'e sometimes seen a hint of rust so I am sure to apply an other coat of chain lube.

Last week during the January thaw I took to oportunity to wash the bike. I had some Zip WAX car cleaner in the garage and mixed it up and put in into a spray bottle. With the nozel I can contro it so that I get a nice fine mist. I liberally coated the bike with the cleaner/wax. I then used my Python fish tank hose to bring some warm water outside (I was not going to use a garden hose) with ice cold water. I rinsed the bike without using and pressure to prevent washing any grease away from where I really need it. The bike turned out nice and clean and after drying I re-applied the chain lube.

One thing I do LOVE about my Gary Fisher bike is that all the cabled run along the top tube so they all stay fare away from the dirtiest part of the bike. I've had problems in the past with bikes were the cables run under the bottom cranck. They get all gummed up and crusty. So far a few very light squirts of some light penetrating lube applied once a month has been more than enough the keep everything working as good as new.

Happy riding,
André