Trek has launched the third generation of its Checkpoint ALR aluminium gravel bike, offering some of the features of its carbon stablemate along with larger tyre clearance, greater off-road capability, and a more upright, comfier geometry than previous alloy generations. Trek promises “big gravel capability at an affordable price”. Of course, “affordable” is a relative term – your definition might not be the same as Trek’s – but complete bike prices start at £1,200.
> Check out off.road.cc’s review of the Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 gravel bike
There aren’t all that many gravel bikes out there at this price point, so we’re always happy to hear about developments in the market. Trek pitches this range as being suitable for everything from off-road exploration to commuting on rough roads, and even chucks out the “one bike to rule them all” line. Where have we heard that one before?
Trek says that Checkpoint ALR now offers clearance for tyres up to 50mm (as measured), whereas it was previously 45mm. This follows recent trends towards larger tyres and brings the Checkpoint ALR into line with the carbon Checkpoint SL Gen 3. The new models are also compatible with both 27.2mm dropper seatposts and suspension forks (up to 40mm of travel, except the XS-sized frame), if you want to go down that route for increased off-road capability and comfort.
As the name suggests, the Checkpoint ALRs are built around aluminium frames – Trek’s 300-series aluminium alloy, to be precise – each coming with a carbon fork slotted in up front. It’s the same one that’s used by the Checkpoint SL bikes. You get three pack mounts for storage on the outside of the fork legs.
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Like the carbon Checkpoint SL Gen 3, the Checkpoint ALR now uses Trek’s Gravel Endurance Geometry with a higher stack and shorter reach than on previous models, the idea being to put you into a slightly shorter and more upright riding position for improved comfort and control.
The medium-sized model, for example, comes with a 58.9cm stack and a 39.1cm reach, giving a stack/reach of 1.51. That compares with a stack/reach of 1.43 on Trek’s speed-focused Checkmate in an equivalent size.
The Checkpoint ALR gets the same mounts as the Checkpoint SL Gen 3. That means you can easily mount bags on the top tube and within the front triangle, and fit up to four bottles on the frame. If you’d rather go down a more traditional route, you also get front and rear rack mounts, plus mudguard mounts.
One further update is that cable/hose routing now runs underneath the bar and stem and enters the frame via the top of the head tube rather than going externally to the down tube and top of the fork – again following current trends. The idea is to neaten things up without making maintenance a nightmare.
All Trek ALRs come with T47 (threaded) bottom brackets, although you don’t get the internal storage (within the down tube) or the IsoSpeed tech of the carbon models.
Three models to choose from
There are three models in the new Trek Checkpoint ALR range:
Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 £1,700
Groupset SRAM Apex 1×12
Wheels Bontrager Paradigm 23, tubeless-ready
Trek Checkpoint ALR 4 £1,400
Groupset Shimano Cues 1×11
Wheels Bontrager Paradigm 23, tubeless-ready
Trek Checkpoint ALR 3 £1,200
Groupset Shimano Cues 1×10
Wheels Bontrager Paradigm 23, tubeless-ready
The Trek Checkpoint ALR Gen 3 frameset is £625.
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Get more info from www.trekbikes.com.
1 thought on “Check out Trek’s new Checkpoint ALR bikes: “big gravel capability at an affordable price””
The other difference with the
The other difference with the Gen3 ALR frames seems to be UDH compatibility. Annoyingly the more “gravelesque” coluous are perpetually out of stock, whatever generation you’re buying.