re chaingrease:

To be honest, the advent of cheap, light and strong plastics and their ease of moulding makes the lack of chain guards on single speeds and hub geared bikes seem silly. These kinds of bikes could easily have totally enclosed chain drives for pennies. This would not only increase their practical utility, but would make them mechanically more durable since the chains would remain clean and water free. The only reason this doesn't happen must be a perception of the kind of 'style' the customers want. Cycles owe at least some of their form to fashion issues.

In the early 1950s my dad was a rent collector for about three years. He rode his Raleigh Superbe (with complete chain enclosure) to his place of work and all around the city and outlying villages where he collected rents. He must have rode that bike 25 miles a day at least for five days a week for about three years. I asked him and he has no recollection of ever having to do anything with the chain except occasionally oiling it and removing it to mend punctures.