chain maintenance for indoor trainer bike
 

Silly question, but I was wondering, if I've been riding my bike indoors all winter, is there any reason to clean/lubricate it periodically? Clearly, I'm not very knowledgable on the workings of lubrication and the rate at which it wears off.

p.s. I know sweat can be a factor, but actually it turns out I don't sweat onto the chain and such really. Don't know if that's a consideration here.

OF course the chain wants lubrication. Do you think a chain knows or cares whether it's used indoors or out?

On the bright side, since dirt and weather aren't an issue, you can use any oil and wipe off the excess so it doesn't spatter. Even with the best oil your chain will still need relubrication at intervals. In machinery chain drives get lubricated constantly by drip systems that put a few drops on the chain every hour or so. You can't and shouldn't do that, nut neglect will increase wear indoors the same way as outdoors.

Thanks for the guidance. I've got a few hundred miles on my hybrid since I got it tuned up, and currently riding 65-70 miles a week, so want to make sure I'm taking care of it right and remain proactive with maintenance.

Most of the black crud is from metal wear inside the chain. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/chain-care.html

Or they run submerged in an oil bath at all times. Of course, an industrial chain drive is expected to last over 25,000 hours (3 years or more) while a bike chain that lasts 6000 miles only averages about 400 hours.