Originally Posted by
DropBarFan
Perhaps chain maintenance is not as critical with IGH chains since the straight line means less drag & wear. But with continuous commuting or touring etc a weekly lube-wipe, at least, would seem to be in order. OK, 5 or 10 minutes extra maintenance per week doesn't seem like much but if one is busy or weather is bad that would be nice to avoid. Chain life is not crucial, one can buy 10+ chains for the price of a Shimano Alfiine 8-sp IGH. Belt life is reputedly so good that they're cheaper than chains in the long run. Chains stain clothes & car interiors.
When I used IGH to commute through the 1980s, I think my average chain cleaning time was pretty much 0 minutes per week. They just don't really get dirty enough to care on normal road riding unless it's winter.