Re:
Agree re tyres and so on, totally with ya.
My old 27” wheeled heap of shite £10 out paper in 1992ish was nicest bike on road I have ever ridden.
The Specialized epic carbon fibre I had done out with full 105 low profile and velocity rims/hope titanium hubs etc was nice n all but never ever felt nice to ride and always felt like hard work.
At time (I was talking to Sandy Wallace about it as epic got stolen and was getting a mountain bike as insurance pay out and chose the kula with pace shocks out his shop). His opinion was (as he had seen both bikes) was the old 27” bike was actually a good old 531 frame with relaxed geometery and was always gonna feel loads nicer on any long run than the aggressive geometery of the epic. I still felt there was more to it as difference just seemed silly.
And tbh being an audax it will take 32 maybe 35 tyres which gets rolling diameter almost same as 27” and tyre that will offer same comfort.
Plus the 725 frame is relaxed in a way most modern ones aren’t, light but offers similar comfort to 531. And it’s done out with mostly campag setup which looks nice (10speed 3 ring at front and 9 speed at back with nice looking wheels, chorus levers).
Just needs seat post, saddle and peddles to finish. Yeah frame is untidy but seems a very good price. Similar to what some people are asking for gaspipe stuff.
Think it’s best of both, modern, light, indexed but steel, comfy and will take larger tyres with mudguards if wanted.