Chain cleaning challenged

[Catrin]

I got my first bike in December, and my LBS told me how to take care of the chain. 1 drop of lube per link, and they recommended a rather heavy oil with which to do this once every 3-4 weeks. So I did what they directed (not thinking that I wasn't riding very often in the winter)...

So you can guess in what shape my poor chain is in after only 140 miles! My legs, sock, and shoe was a sight to behold this weekend when I cam in from my 13 mile ride...

On the advice of a friend who has been biking longer than I've been driving, I am cleaning the chain. Sunday evening I cleaned it with WD-40 - and it took quite a bit to get most of the gunk off. It may not be a good lube but it certainly removes other oil!

My next step is to spray it with Simple Green a few times - basically trying to get it in a state where I can start all over again. Simple Green is on my shopping list on the way home today

Tomorrow night I will oil it with a thinner lube (just a very light stream as I turn the crank) and then wipe it off.

So that is the plan - and my question is this - how often SHOULD I lube the chain? I want to do it enough but certainly don't want such a repeat. I do wipe it when I come in from a ride...