I guess I'm somewhere in the middle? I clean the chain, cog, and chainring with a rag before I apply any lubricant, but I generally apply a thin stream to the inside of the links as I rotate the chain (similar to @cornedbeef, I think). Then rotate, followed by more wiping until a clean rag doesn't show much coloration when run over the chain.
One departure I've made in recent years is to try a different lube. I like this biodegradable lubricant: [https://www.green-oil.net/](https://www.green-oil.net/) Might not last quite as long as some others- chain gets noisy after 2-3 rides-but it seems to work fine and makes me feel slightly better about the world. Baby steps, but still...
June 14, 2021, 4:47 a.m. - goose8
I guess I'm somewhere in the middle? I clean the chain, cog, and chainring with a rag before I apply any lubricant, but I generally apply a thin stream to the inside of the links as I rotate the chain (similar to @cornedbeef, I think). Then rotate, followed by more wiping until a clean rag doesn't show much coloration when run over the chain. One departure I've made in recent years is to try a different lube. I like this biodegradable lubricant: [https://www.green-oil.net/](https://www.green-oil.net/) Might not last quite as long as some others- chain gets noisy after 2-3 rides-but it seems to work fine and makes me feel slightly better about the world. Baby steps, but still...