Quote Originally Posted by goldfinch View Post
I just took a basic bike maintenance class and the teachers suggested using a dry lube to clean the chain after every ride. The only downside seems to be the price of the lube. Anyway, you slather it on and scrub with a rag. Works pretty nice at cleaning a chain. I've been using it for a few rides now.
It depends on your riding habits. I commute, so I do not lube the chain after EVERY ride! Though during rainy spells it seems like it.

I degrease rarely. Perhaps I should do it more--but with the maintenance that I do, plus replacing my chain every ~1500 miles, my cassettes last 4500-5000 miles. That's pretty good!