Asymmetric Decal Degradation
08-07-20, 09:15 PM
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Asymmetric Decal Degradation
Over the years, I have given my Litespeed the occasional spruce up, including new decals (one of the great things about bare Ti - new decals makes the whole thing look new again). Last time I did the decals, maybe 15 years ago, within a couple of years, the left hand side top tube decal was starting to degrade while the right hand decal looked fine. After a while, I simply removed the tatty decal with acetone and left the right hand one alone and the right one spent a decade aging gracefully from sun exposure etc. Fast forward to 2020. I strip the bike down to the frame and give everything a good clean up and overhaul, including a new set of model year-correct decals (LS carries decal sets going back to 1996). I applied these in Feb or Mar of this year. However, again, the left hand decal is started to curl up and degrade (See pics)
Top Tube Right Side
Top Tube Left Side
I also have a pair of Chorus shifters that I used for ~5 years back in the 2000's, and the left lever screen printing is significantly more degraded than the right (my brakes are set up right-front, so the right lever does most of the work
Over the years, with various moves etc, the bike has been stored in different garages, sometimes in the house, so there's no consistent asymmetric exposure, but the left decals consistently degrade. When I first noticed this, I though that maybe my left knee, coated with sunscreen, was inadvertently rubbing the left top tube decal, but that's not the case. My current working theory (not serious) is that I'm a chimera, and my left side twin's sweat is considerably more corrosive than that of the right side twin. This might also explain the interesting conversations I have with myself on long "solo" rides!
Thoughts, suggestions welcome.
Top Tube Right Side
Top Tube Left Side
I also have a pair of Chorus shifters that I used for ~5 years back in the 2000's, and the left lever screen printing is significantly more degraded than the right (my brakes are set up right-front, so the right lever does most of the work
Over the years, with various moves etc, the bike has been stored in different garages, sometimes in the house, so there's no consistent asymmetric exposure, but the left decals consistently degrade. When I first noticed this, I though that maybe my left knee, coated with sunscreen, was inadvertently rubbing the left top tube decal, but that's not the case. My current working theory (not serious) is that I'm a chimera, and my left side twin's sweat is considerably more corrosive than that of the right side twin. This might also explain the interesting conversations I have with myself on long "solo" rides!
Thoughts, suggestions welcome.
Last edited by Litespud; 08-07-20 at 10:11 PM.
08-08-20, 05:36 AM
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Does the left side get more frequent sun exposure, like when you stop and lean the bike again?
BITD I frequently did the same out and back ride on an MUP. Because of timing, I usually started the return when the sun was higher in the sky. My right arm would be slightly darker than my left. Sun really takes its toll. I have a jersey that I have worn during several one and two week tours. The upper back area is noticeably faded from UV rays. My rear pannier tops are also quite faded.
BITD I frequently did the same out and back ride on an MUP. Because of timing, I usually started the return when the sun was higher in the sky. My right arm would be slightly darker than my left. Sun really takes its toll. I have a jersey that I have worn during several one and two week tours. The upper back area is noticeably faded from UV rays. My rear pannier tops are also quite faded.
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08-08-20, 06:47 AM
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Over the years, I have given my Litespeed the occasional spruce up, including new decals (one of the great things about bare Ti - new decals makes the whole thing look new again). Last time I did the decals, maybe 15 years ago, within a couple of years, the left hand side top tube decal was starting to degrade while the right hand decal looked fine. After a while, I simply removed the tatty decal with acetone and left the right hand one alone and the right one spent a decade aging gracefully from sun exposure etc. Fast forward to 2020. I strip the bike down to the frame and give everything a good clean up and overhaul, including a new set of model year-correct decals (LS carries decal sets going back to 1996). I applied these in Feb or Mar of this year. However, again, the left hand decal is started to curl up and degrade (See pics)
Top Tube Right Side
Top Tube Left Side
I also have a pair of Chorus shifters that I used for ~5 years back in the 2000's, and the left lever screen printing is significantly more degraded than the right (my brakes are set up right-front, so the right lever does most of the work
Over the years, with various moves etc, the bike has been stored in different garages, sometimes in the house, so there's no consistent asymmetric exposure, but the left decals consistently degrade. When I first noticed this, I though that maybe my left knee, coated with sunscreen, was inadvertently rubbing the left top tube decal, but that's not the case. My current working theory (not serious) is that I'm a chimera, and my left side twin's sweat is considerably more corrosive than that of the right side twin. This might also explain the interesting conversations I have with myself on long "solo" rides!
Thoughts, suggestions welcome.
Top Tube Right Side
Top Tube Left Side
I also have a pair of Chorus shifters that I used for ~5 years back in the 2000's, and the left lever screen printing is significantly more degraded than the right (my brakes are set up right-front, so the right lever does most of the work
Over the years, with various moves etc, the bike has been stored in different garages, sometimes in the house, so there's no consistent asymmetric exposure, but the left decals consistently degrade. When I first noticed this, I though that maybe my left knee, coated with sunscreen, was inadvertently rubbing the left top tube decal, but that's not the case. My current working theory (not serious) is that I'm a chimera, and my left side twin's sweat is considerably more corrosive than that of the right side twin. This might also explain the interesting conversations I have with myself on long "solo" rides!
Thoughts, suggestions welcome.
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08-08-20, 10:09 AM
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+1. Coming to a stop, which foot do you put down? For me it's usually my left, keeping my right clipped in on the pedal, also with tendency to lean my bike to my right leg/thigh, and voila, my Ti decals are more worn on that side. As for braking, haven't seen a wear difference on my Chorus shiffters' logo, my generally my 1-2 fingers on the brake lever are falling below the logos in the bottom part of the "S" curve, which is below the logo on my newer model. Looking at the OP's photo, I don't see how there'd ever really be wear in the "CHOR" part of the logo from braking.
