Sometimes we get cruisers, basket bikes, dialed gravel rigs, and other times we get bikes sent to us that really pull at our heartstrings like Dakota‘s AWOL Expert. These bikes were so ahead of their time and since their inception, we’ve seen lots of bikes that have the same look and feel. So when Dakota sent his in, we had to share it! Check out Dakota’s words and photos below…

This is a 2016 AWOL Expert with 1×12 Sram GX/Apex drivetrain (thanks to the Ratio Technology upgrade kit) with a 10-50 GX cassette.

Rival Crank with 44t absolute black oval. Fulcrum racing wheels with 700x50c WTB Venture tires. PNW coast 48cm bars.

This has been a dream bike of mine ever since I saw it. I had the opportunity to buy a frameset this year and was stoked! I moved the parts over from my current bike, added wider bars wider tires, and have been loving this on gravel and hope to load it up! I have a set of 27.5 wheels for the rough stuff with Teravail Ehlines 2.3”. I love the versatility of this bike!

We’d like to thank all of you who have submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared over here. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!