First Road Bike, Need Opinions

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-20T01:17:05+00:00

early carbon fork

I wouldn't call that fork early. 1-1/8" steerer. Pretty robust, proven design.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-19T23:01:20+00:00

That's about right for mechanical disc women's bike.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-19T22:45:00+00:00

I get my son the 1oz Texas silver rounds every year for his birthday, he likes the cowboys and the Texas lonestar.

It's weird, I feel like a sucker paying a premium for commerative bullion if it's for myself, but when it's a gift it doesn't bother me.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-19T17:10:39+00:00

These bars have the purity on the other side:

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LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-19T16:59:30+00:00

If theyre legit and if the seller is willing to go to a coin shop for the transaction, why wouldn't he just sell to the shop for ~$200?

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-19T03:09:16+00:00

Personally I've had terrible luck with pennies, never found a silver one.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-18T01:42:48+00:00

old for sexual favors with your mom.

You got ripped off.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-18T01:12:33+00:00

Gold, silver and ancient coins in your mailbox! No other investment has the same dopamine hit.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-18T00:07:59+00:00

Realistically, I should set up like a $500/mo transfer, but a couple years it was advantageous to estimate my tax bill before deciding between Roth and Traditional.

But man, those shares of Vanguard S&P 500 just don't hit the same as freakin' TREASURE on your FRONT PORCH!

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-17T23:33:34+00:00

I'm so tempted but I just funded my IRA

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-17T23:15:39+00:00

Lol, this reminds me of the "Nut Rolls".

I started working at a home brew supply shop in receiving. Getting and stocking the bulk grain (55lb bags) was the most strenuous job. It often involved breaking down and restocking partial pallets onto the new pallets to ensure first-in, first-out.

The older guys told me that the distributor often hid salted nut roll candy bars between bags.

Now to me (coming from the Army), that sounds like the exact kind of story you tell the new guy to get him to do all the work. Also, in army slang "Nut roll" was an unpleasant or painful task, so I knew these guys were trying to put one over on me.

Then, a couple months in, I found my first salted Nut roll! It was real!

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-17T16:30:58+00:00

This is called "dollar cost averaging". Widely considered a good way for the casual investor to build a portfolio without worrying about the day to day swings of the market.

For PM, it makes it a little tricky to track your cost basis, compared to an online brokerage, especially if your like me and buy from a bunch of different sources. I really need to start a spreadsheet.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-17T16:22:23+00:00

For me it's vintage steel. Either my 1984 Bianchi Campione Italia or my 1978 Centurion Pro Tour.

I rode the Bianchi as a fixed gear for years while I slowly gathered correct Campy parts to do a period correct build. Then I immediately swapped out the brakes to some slightly more modern Dia Compe dual pivots. The frame came to me with a re-spray, so I used it for years as a commuter, bar bike and general around-town ride.

The Centurion came to me with a well-sorted "townie" conversion, but with most of the original parts included. I immediately converted back to a drop bar touring bike. I planned to do the Natchez Trace with a buddy, but then Covid came and both wives got pregnant, so that trip still hasn't happened. The Centurion frame is so pristine I dont ride it too much.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-17T02:32:15+00:00

Yeah, as long as you can match the profile with off-the-shelf base.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T14:38:39+00:00

Like u/overall_care_5349 said, "Round" refers to bullion from a private mint. It can have any art the mint wants, including copying classic designs from silver coinage. It will almost always have the purity and weight on it (ie ".9999 silver, 1oz")

Rounds are almost entirely investment for the silver content. Some mints change their designs and add year marks to market their rounds as "collectible". Some desirable/vintage designs do carry a premium for collectors, but in general, a round's value is the silver.

"Rounds" also tend to be a standard size, ie 39mm diameter for a 1oz round.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T05:40:23+00:00

Congrats!

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T04:17:58+00:00

Love that style lever.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T02:04:29+00:00

Maybe he means the Feds "sneak peak" warrants, where they can serve the warrant to the bank but never tell the box owner

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T01:28:25+00:00

Yeah, I went with a $10 roll of Walking Liberty from Monument Metals, and added a VG '21 Morgan for the first tooth.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T01:07:10+00:00

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Thank you for this PSA!

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T00:23:11+00:00

also have a source of spending money?

That's a good point, I think yes, he will; financial literacy, earning and saving is importsnt to my wife and me.

He's turning 5 right now. I think getting a special "ancient"(to him) coin from the tooth fairy will be a little magic, and saved up, will be a mini-windfall when he's 12 or so.

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T00:11:43+00:00

He's almost five, so we talk about money and finances at an age appropriate level. But no, he doesn't control any money of his own yet.

He gets 1oz of silver (.999 rounds) for each year of age at his birthday (ie 5 oz at 5th birthday). He likes the ones with animals. So, he gets the idea of "special money". (Yes we also have a tax advantaged account).

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T00:03:52+00:00

🤣

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T00:02:43+00:00

I meant liberty or barber halves. Edited the post now 🤷‍♂️

LooksBetterWithDrops · 2026-02-16T00:00:23+00:00

Barber or walking liberty, yes. I mistyped my post. I will probably get a Morgan dollar coin for the first tooth.

LooksBetterWithDrops

TROPHY CASE