I have had my AWOL for just over a year now. I found the original wheelset to be okay, but I swapped mine out for a new wheelset with DT Swiss rims and spokes on Shimano XT hubs. I put Little Big Ben tires on the bike, along with a WTB Comfort Comp saddle and a hacked Racktime rear rack on the front.

I finally had the bike exactly where I wanted it. Then I tore a muscle in my lower back last Saturday on a personal metric century ride.

After speaking to a chairopractor earlier today, I am actually considering putting Humpert "mini" butterfly bars on mine with a Humpert adjustable stem to have a bit more of an upright posture to take some pressure off my back. I may also add a thudbuster seatpost; lower back pain is no joke.