Some thousands of kilometres later, I am smitten by this bicycle.
It elicits compliments from strangers, rides beautifully, is deathly silent, and just oozes efficiency while rolling down the road. What’s more, I feel I want for nothing when the going gets quick.
Here’s an updated photo. This is it in summer trim with no lights or mudguards. It would be shinier if I’d bothered washing it. Click for the full-size image.

I got the frame very cheaply, but it has a small flaw: the bottle-cage mounts are not laterally centred on the seat tube. I don’t care because I put a Zéfal HPX there anyway.
The bicycle in its photographed state weighs 10 kg on the nose.
Below are build details and some comments for the morbidly curious and my future reference.
Frame: Spa Audax, 54 cm, steel.
1.89 kg with headset cups fitted. Chosen mainly for 72.5º seat tube. Would have preferred 72° with Brooks saddleFork: standard Spa carbon model.
Made by Aprebic, 45 mm offset, 0.609 kg with uncut steerer tubeHeadset: Tange-Seiki Terious SRN, 1 1/8".
Not my choice but Spa’sSpacers: single Thorn (SJS Cycles) 48 mm black spacer below stem, 5 mm silver spacer above.
I insisted on having a single spacer underneath the stem to reduce the risk of movement affecting the bearing preload. Since I needed one of two heights (depending on stem flip), this limited me to black in the endStem: Ritchey Classic C220, 90 mm, 6° rise
Handlebars: Ritchey Classic, 40 cm.
The narrowest size availableSeatpost: Ritchey Classic 2-bolt, 25 mm offset, 27.2 mm diameter
Seatpost clamp: standard Spa model
Saddle: Brooks Cambium C17, ‘Natural’ colour
Brake levers: Shimano BL-R400
with internal plastic doodahs removed (they rattled). Sublime feel and operation!Brake cables: Shimano SLR
Brake callipers: Shimano BR-R650
Brake pads: Kool-Stop Dura2 salmon
Gear levers: Shimano SL-R400, 8-speed indexed rear
Gear cables: Shimano OT-SP41
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7800,
nominally 10-speed but works perfectly with 8-speed chain. Secondhand but barely used. Chosen for ball-bearing pulleys to reduce dragFront derailleur: Shimano Claris FD-2400 braze-on with Zenith adaptor.
Chosen for official support of 46T outer chainringsBottom bracket: Shimano BB-UN55 square taper, English thread, 113 mm spindle, with Wheels Manufacturing 1.5 mm spacer on drive side.
Spacer perfects the chainline for my definition of perfectCranks: SunXCD (Sun Exceed) with SXAD103 110 mm / 74 mm BCD spider
Chainrings: Stronglight 46T and 34T.
50T chainrings make no sense to mePedals: Look PP247.
Heavy, but I had them from an old bicycleChain: KMC X8.93, 108 links
Cassette: Shimano CS-HG50 8-speed 13–26T (13-14-15-17-19-21-23-26T).
Nice close ratios throughout, with 1T steps in the oft-used top three gearsRear hub: Shimano 105 FH-5700, 36-hole.
Chosen for better spoke-bracing geometry than 11-speed versions like the FH-5800Front hub: Schmidt SONdelux dynamo hub, 32-hole, silver polished.
Chosen for very low lights-off dragRims: Exal XR2 in 32- and 36-hole front and rear.
Made in Belgium, baby!Spokes: whatever Spa use to build wheels, Alpina I think. Swaged except rear drive-side
Tubes: Michelin Latex AirComp, A1.
With 60 mm valves because that’s all Decathlon had. Will correct on replacement!Tyres: Schwalbe One, 25 mm
Handlebar tape: Fizik Superlight Classic, Brown.
Thin and hard, the way I like itChainstay protector: Lizard Skins.
Fake carbon pattern I didn’t notice until too late (retch)Bottle cage: Elite Ciussi Inox (stainless steel)
Everything has been put together with anti-seize copper grease as appropriate and a torque wrench, then meticulously adjusted for perfect operation.
It’s a thing of wonder!
The driving forces behind the component choices were quality, simplicity, economy, durability, low running costs, and timeless elegance. I feel the result is classically handsome while never veering into retro-poser-idiot territory. The parts were always chosen for function before looks. I am pleased with it. But of course tastes vary, and I won’t be offended if you’re aghast at that stem!
Are you, by the way?