Just posting so I might come back to it later. Re: WD-40 it's for anti seize. We messengers used to carry a small can around in our bags in the winter for all manner of stuff. Chains, shifters, cables, brake pivot points, seat posts, just about anything. It is not a lube though, it has some in it mixed with the loosening agents, but it does work. We'd spray it on on those 10cm+ of snow days to help keep the freewheel clear of ice with the exception of the single gear you were riding. It's not uncommon to see a messenger get off his bike at a light and bounce/kick all the crap off it that had gathered.
I was lucky in that I had a friend that lived a block from a fire station , so they'd hose the bikes down at the end of a gross sloppy day for us.
I'm toying with the idea of trying to mount 28mm cross tires on my road brake setup Paké for this winter.