My winter bikes are usually curbside specials acquired in the August 15th campus shuffle. 
I mostly follow Eric's protocol (ignore winter bike maintenance unless you can't), but without the wistful hand-wringing.

For example by the end of last winter, my chain was skipping on about 1/2 the cogs so I used the other half of them.  Then in the fall, I replaced the chain with the chain from another curbside acquisition, and now all the cogs work.  If I had used a new chain, I would have had to replace the cassette. Not that I'm opposed to buying a new drivetrain every few years, but that would likely have been a challenge I didn't feel like taking on.  You see, the last time I removed the rear wheel on that bike, I had to take extraordinary measures because the rust from quick release skewer had welded it in place.  I ended up replacing the wheel with --- you guessed it --- another Wednesday Night Special.

However, my bike-shopping strategy is threatened. (Does that sound wistful?)   In recent years, the City Street Dept has gotten quite aggressive in fulfilling its August 15th mission.  There are so many garbage trucks roaming the Vilas and Mifflin neighborhoods on move-out day that the treasures are often trashed immediately after being dragged out to the curb.


Eric Sundquist wrote:
In winter I look at my chain with gratitude for its service and remorse for the near certainty that the only maintenance it will receive before April is a squirt of whatever lube is handy, should it squeak or show obvious rust. Come April the I will clean the chain along with the rest of the bike -- by then almost to filthy to touch -- with a garden hose. I will then dry it, squirt on some new lube and hang it until the first solid freeze of the fall.

I know this is very slack and sad. But the winter bike being a single speed, at worst I'm out a cog and a chain a bit earlier than I would be with more adequate chain hygiene. The current drivechain is on winter No. 3 and has plenty of life left, according to the chain stretch tool.

Eric

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