Cliff:
It sounds like you might be putting on way too much lube. Our chains just need a very light coat, to keep any surface rust from developing. I'm still on my original bottle of Bel-Ray Super Clean lube. I clean my chain once a season, but there are never gobs, etc. on my wheel. It does collect on the front sprocket, but you can't see the mess without taking off the cover.
Kerosene and an old rag is what I use to clean the chain.
