There are no options left to buy a non-integrated bike that looks good. I would expect Standert to produce some, but they also switched to running everything through a headset. So I went ahead and bought a previous-generation Aethos. It’s the cheapest (9r) frame they produce. I don’t think there’s a big difference between them, aside from it weighing 100 g more. It comes with some aluminum wheels and Shimano Di2.

I’ve changed the stock wheels for Roval Alpinist CL II wheels. When you look at the modern wheels, they have even more gimmicks than modern bike frames. Most of them use proprietary components, so good luck finding freehubs, bearings, spokes, whatever in a few years.

Roval Alpinists are as standard as they can be. They use DT Swiss spokes. They use DT Swiss 350 hubs. These hubs are bulletproof and require no tools for service.

The wheels are feather-light. I’m not sure yet how that translates to ride quality — if it does at all — but they look great on the bike. The 33 mm rims give it a tidy, balanced look that fits the frame’s lines well.

P.S. You know what this bike reminds me of?