trek checkpoint al 4 2019 review

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2020 CyclingTips Gravel Bike Field Test , Bike and Frame Reviews , Budget tech , Features , Product reviews , Tech , Trek Bikes - March 30, 2020

2020 Trek Checkpoint AL4 review: Simple and effective

Trek’s Checkpoint was the most popular gravel bike of 2019, according to data Strava sent over last fall. Trek has sold a lot of them. This suggests that it’s a good bike, and indeed it is. But we found that it is good in a generic, pop-music, lowest-common-denominator, unoffensive-to-all kind of way. It takes few chances; it makes few errors. It works.

This, we believe, is exactly what Trek was going for. And they nailed it.

Keep it simple, stupid

The Checkpoint comes in three tiers – we tested the most affordable, and simplest, version, the AL4, with an alloy frame and fixed rear dropouts. There’s a fancier aluminum Checkpoint, which comes with sliding rear dropouts, as well as a carbon version , which adds Trek’s ISOSpeed decoupler. These features add adjustability and comfort, but also cost and complexity.

Story Highlights

• What it is: A versatile aluminum gravel bike with a ton of possibilities for activities.
• Features: Trek’s 200 Alloy frame, flat mount brakes, tubeless ready rims, modular internal cable routing, DuoTrap ANT+ Bluetooth sensor built into the frame, mounts galore!
• Weight: 10.59 kg (23.34 lbs)
• Price: $1,600 / £1,250 / €1,399 / AU$N/A
• Size tested: 54 cm
• Highs: An incredibly affordable bike that functions beyond its price, great for bikepacking, commuting, secret “groad” with your buddies, and more.
• Lows: Heavy. It’s heavy. Also, it definitely needs a tire upgrade from the ones that come with it.

I like to work in analogies. The AL4 is a white legal-sized envelope. It gets the job done. No gimmicks. Apart from being a little on the heavier side, the bike is absolutely nothing to complain about, or get particularly excited about. Everything on it works the way it is expected to work, there are endless mount possibilities and features for bikepacking and commuting.

Simple, in this case, is good. This bike is reliable; it’s the old friend that brings you soup when you’re sick, is never late for the airport pickup, and helps you move apartments.

In fact, that may be where this bike shines: in pickup-truck-like (or a ute-like, for our Aussies) utilitarianism. Would I want to commute on a BMC URS ? Probably not. For US$1,600, the AL4 can tackle gravel, or dirt, or urban commutes, or panniers and touring. The possibilities may not be endless, but they are plentiful, and for such a reasonable price, it makes sense that this was one of Strava’s popular bikes of 2019, especially since lots of those rides come from “Morning Commute” or “Evening Commute”.

This is a bike anyone would feel safe riding to work and the next day taking on an adventure ride around the dirt roads outside of town.

An aluminum frame, hydraulic disc brakes, and 2x Shimano drivetrain – what else do you need? Nothing. The answer is nothing.

No risks were risked in the design of the Checkpoint. In fact, the frame geometry is basically that of a road bike with extra clearance. The head tube angle for the 54 cm frame that we tested is 71.8 degrees, which equates to 61 mm of trail. A size 54 cm Trek Domane AL 3, which is a road bike, has a 71.3-degree head tube angle and 59 mm of trail. The Domane is technically an endurance road bike, however, only half a degree and 0.2 cm difference is not a ton of difference. The two bikes ride very similarly.

For the person who is comfortable riding a road bike, or commuting on a road bike, the Checkpoint AL 4 will not shock them. They will be comfortable and confident cruising around immediately.

Trek took no chances with the geometry of the Checkpoint.

All the comparisons to road bikes aside, the chainstay length on the Checkpoint AL frame is 43 cm. That means more stability, which is perfect for a lot of what this bike is made for: bumpy gravel roads, commuting, and touring. And this stability is key. A road-focussed Trek Emonda isn’t going to feel as comfortable on washboard gravel as something that’s longer and less aggressive.

Trek goes all out when it comes to mount possibilities on the Checkpoint AL 4. First of all, there are both high and low bolts for water bottle cages, depending on where you want your cages on the frame or if you need to move them for bags/bikepacking gear. There is an additional water bottle mount on the bottom-side of the down tube near the bottom bracket that could be for a third water bottle or for a storage bottle (for extra flat kit, extra food … unfortunately a banana would not fit in the Bontrager storage bottle, though).

Hidden fender mounts offer the possibility of full-coverage fenders, so no matter the weather or wetness of the roads you won’t have to change your adventure plans. On top of that, there are rack mounts on the rear triangle and additional options on the top tube as well. In short, there are a lot of mounts. It’s no Salsa Cutthroat , but it’s close.

Look at all them mounts.

For such a reasonably priced bike, the spec is impressive. This is the most affordable bike in our Field Test with fully hydraulic disc brakes (no hybrid system, no mechanical discs), and that refusal to cut corners is seen throughout the spec.

I have only one complaint pertaining to the parts that came on the bike, and that was the Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite tires. These tires give away Trek’s intentions with this particular model – they’re not gravel tires. They’re commuter tires. That means they’re thick, very flat-resistant, and very uncomfortable on bad surfaces. They even have wire beads, so they’re super heavy. If you want to use the AL 4 as a commuter, leave them on. If you want to use it as a gravel bike, they need to go.

Once we had our Continental Terra Speed 40 mm control tires on there it made a noticeable difference in how the bike rode.

The drivetrain is all Shimano Tiagra – no non-Shimano parts mixed in to save money. That means it all works flawlessly.

Unsurprisingly, Trek went with a 2x drivetrain, with compact-sized 50 and 34T front chainrings. That’s a good match for this bike’s road-like personality. It comes stock with an 11-32T cassette, which is great, though we’d prefer Trek put an 11-34 on there, which the Tiagra rear derailleur will take. There’s no clutched derailleur out back, but, again, that falls in line with the road-oriented rider that will probably be interested in this model.

The drivetrain worked so well there’s very little to be said about it. It’s like when you go to a restaurant and have a totally great meal that left you feeling full and happy, the service was fine and there’s really nothing to write home about.

The wheels are Bontrager Affinity aluminum rims (21 mm inner width, so reasonably wide) laced to Formula hubs. They do not come with Bontrager’s TLR rim strips — you need to buy those separately — but once you have them the wheels set up tubeless quite easily. They’re not the lightest, but again, no real complaints.

For those coming from the road, the Bontrager alloy handlebars offer a familiar compact shape without a gravel-like flare, while the rest of the Bontrager finishing kit is equally perfectly reliable. Everything except the tires is ready to grind gravel straight out of the box.

And as a final bonus, servicing this bike in the long-run will be easy. All the components used are cheaply replaced and easily sourced, and there’s not a single proprietary component bolted to this frame. A regular round 27.2 mm seatpost held by a regular clamp? Check (point). An English threaded bottom bracket? Trek.

This is the most affordable bike we tested with fully hydraulic disc brakes.

Final thoughts

As bikes go, this is a great one. Nothing was overly impressive, other than the cost, and nothing was disappointing. It may seem like the video review was on the negative side, but truly, it was just that it’s hard to write a review about a white legal envelope. The simplicity of the Checkpoint AL 4 is what makes it a fantastic bike for a lot of people.

Never change little bike, never change.

www.trekbikes.com

The Trek Checkpoint AL4 is great for a commuter, or a gravel rider, or someone who does both.

It has mounts galore.

Standard, non-flared bars on the Checkpoint.

It’s a good looking bike, we think.

No gimmicks, just a good aluminum frame and a solid parts spec.

The post 2020 Trek Checkpoint AL4 review: Simple and effective appeared first on CyclingTips .

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Trek Checkpoint ALR 4

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Size / 49cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame 300 Series Alpha Aluminum, tapered head tube, BB86.5, flat mount disc brakes, Stranglehold dropouts, 12mm thru axle, Control Freak, internal cable routing, 3S chain keeper
• Fork Checkpoint carbon disc, alloy tapered steerer, flat mount disc brakes, rack mounts, hidden fender mounts, 12mm thru axle
• Hubs Bontrager alloy sealed bearing, 12mm alloy axle, centerlock
• Wheels Bontrager Tubeless Ready
• Tires Bontrager GR1 Comp, 60tpi, wire bead, 700x40c
• Chain KMC X10
• Crank Shimano Tiagra, 50/34 (compact)
• Bottom Bracket Shimano press-fit
• Front Derailleur Shimano Tiagra
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra
• Shifters Shimano RS405, 10 speed
• Brakeset Shimano RS505 flat mount hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager RL IsoZone VR-CF, 31.8mm
• Saddle Bontrager Montrose Comp
• Seatpost Bontrager Approved, 2-bolt head, 27.2mm, 8mm offset
• Stem Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, 7 degree, w/computer & light mounts
• Grips Bontrager tape
• Headset Integrated, cartridge bearing, sealed, 1-1/8˝ top, 1.5˝ bottom

Q: How much is a 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR 4?

A 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR 4 is typically priced around $1,889 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR 4?

The 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR 4 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: What size 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR 4 should I get?

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Trek Checkpoint AL 4 Gravel Bike 2019 Battleship Blue

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Season:2019

Code:579491-TREK19

The 2019 Trek Checkpoint AL 4 respresents killer value for money, pairing a high-quality frame with a versatile build and you get the perfect bike for a wide variety of rides, including gravel, bikepacking and daily commutes.

Geometry for the  Checkpoint  is comfortable for the long haul and rough roads, but aggressive enough to provide the speed and ride-feel gravel riders are looking for. With a slightly taller stack and lower bottom bracket when compared to a CX bike, the  Trek Checkpoint  delivers improved stability while maintaining fast and manoeuverable characteristics. Complete with internal cable routing to keep everything protected from the inevitable mud-and-dirt.

The Trek Checkpoint AL is covered in mounts, with seat tube & down tube mounts allowing you to carry extra gear and water with ease. Rear rack mounts give more room for cargo, and hidden fender mounts keep the ride clean in even the worst weather.

Trek Checkpoint AL 4 2019 Features

• This bike is exceedingly versatile and suited to a wide variety of riding styles, including gravel rides, bikepacking and daily commutes
• Massive tyre clearance means you can use tyres up to 35c for extra traction and stability in any condition
• Mounts on the seat tube and both sides of the down tube make it easy to carry extra gear and water
• Internal routing protects your cables, even when the gravel gets muddy

2019 Checkpoint AL 4 Build Highlights

• 200 Series Alpha Aluminium frame
• Checkpoint Carbon Disc fork
• Shimano Tiagra 10-speed (50/34t - 11-32t)
• Bontrager Affinity tubeless ready wheelset
• Shimano RS 405 hydraulic disc brakes
• Bontrager finishing kit

Trek Checkpoint Sizing Guide

Please view the information below to find your perfect fit for the Checkpoint . Check out the Trek Bikes Sizing Guide for all bike model sizing guides and tips on how to measure yourself.

Trek Checkpoint Geometry

Write a review for trek checkpoint al 4 gravel bike 2019 battleship blue.

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​Trek's First True Gravel Bike, the Checkpoint, Is Impressive

The new bike's features and lower-cost versions make it a compelling multi-surface option

What’s New for 2018? Checkpoint is a brand new line in the Trek family ; previously, its multi-surface road offerings were split between the Domane Disc , which has clearance for 35mm tires but is decidedly more a performance road bike in features and geometry, and the cyclocross-focused Boone and Crockett lines. The Checkpoint is a dedicated multi-surface bike, with more tire clearance than any bike in Trek’s drop-bar line, and a full range of mounts for racks, bags, fenders, and hydration.

The Checkpoint Family Includes Carbon and Aluminum Models There are four models in the Checkpoint line, three of which come in men’s and women’s options. The SL6 and SL5 feature OCLV 500 carbon frames; while the ALR5 and ALR4 models are aluminum. Women’s options differ only in saddle and handlebar touchpoints and paint; geometry and most parts are identical.

The two carbon models have an OCLV carbon frame with rubberized armor on the down tube and a rear IsoSpeed decoupler. The SL6 ($3,800) gets a full Shimano Ultegra drivetrain with RT800 hydraulic disc brakes and the new Shimano Freeza rotors. The SL5 ($2,800) has a Shimano 105 drivetrain and non-series hydraulic discs.

The aluminum models don't have the IsoSpeed decoupler or the top-tube bag mount. They do, however, have all of the other bottle, rack, and fender mounts. The ALR5 ($2,000) uses a Shimano 105 drivetrain and non-series hydraulic disc brakes, while the ALR4 ($1,700) is kitted with a Shimano Tiagra 10-speed drivetrain and hydraulic brakes. Both have carbon forks, but not the same version as the SL bikes.

All men’s models come in six sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 61cm. Women’s models come in 49, 52, 54, and 56cm. Both the ALR and SL platforms are also available as framesets.

Claimed weight on the Checkpoint SL bare frame is 1,240g; the ALR frame is said to weigh 1,570g (both in a 56cm). Claimed fork weights are 470g (SL) and 600g (ALR).

Generous Tire Clearance and the Option to Run It as a Singlespeed At first glance, the Checkpoint looks largely like a first-generation Domane or Boone, with a rear-only IsoSpeed decoupler on the carbon models for a little bit of comfort. Trek’s road brand manager, Michael Mayer, says that the company opted to not give the bike the front IsoSpeed coupler found on most current Domane and Boone models for two reasons: Doing so would have increased the price, and the company feels like the larger tires most riders will choose lessens its importance.

The Checkpoint can accept up to 700x45mm rubber. That’s thanks in part to the asymmetric chainstay design, which drops the driveside chainstay so that it can still clear the chainrings while preserving generous tire clearance. Unlike some other brands, Trek does not officially say that the Checkpoint is compatible with 650b wheels. It’s designed around a 700c wheel size.

The Stranglehold sliding dropouts are similar to those found on the company's Stache mountain bike and Crockett alloy cyclocross bike. They allow the rider to adjust wheelbase according to tire size and riding preferences, and offer the option to run the bike as a singlespeed.

Trek didn’t hold back with mount options. Every bike in the line gets up to four bottle-cage mounts: three inside the main triangle (with a high/low option for the down tube) and one underneath the down tube. (Smaller sizes have only two mounts inside the main triangle.) There’s a top-tube mount for a frame bag, and full front and rear rack and fender eyelets. Trek uses 12x142mm and 12x100mm thru-axle wheel attachments and flat-mount disc brakes; cable routing is internal on the carbon bikes and partly internal on the aluminum models. While 1x drivetrains are increasingly popular, Trek opted for double chainrings on all models (all drivetrains are Shimano). Every bike has hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless-ready or tubeless-compatible rims, and comes with the same Schwalbe G-One multi-surface tire in a 35mm width.

The Checkpoint is most similar to Trek’s Boone. But the Boone is focused on racing cyclocross, so there are several important differences. In addition to greater tire clearance, the Checkpoint has a slightly taller stack for a more upright rider position, and a lower bottom bracket.

The Stranglehold dropouts offer some adjustment for overall wheelbase, which allows you to shorten the wheelbase with narrower tires; shorter will mean more responsive handling, while longer offers more clearance for wider tires and a more stable feel.

How It Rides We’ve had limited time on the Checkpoint, but initial impressions are positive. The SL6 model in for testing is no featherweight, but is competitive with other multi-surface bikes that have similar features and parts kits. Trek has long excelled at carbon construction, and the frame doesn’t betray any flexiness under power. With the stock 35mm Schwalbe G-One tires, grip and comfort are excellent on a variety of surfaces; descending on pavement feels a little slow, and the pebble tread isn’t as confident in aggressive cornering on pavement as a design like the Donnelly (née Clement) Strada USH, but that’s not what this bike is really designed for.

On two initial shakeout rides, I piloted the Checkpoint over a variety of surfaces ranging from paved climbs and descents to hardpack dirt to loose, sandy loam and even packed snow with icy ruts. The Checkpoint proved confident and capable in all conditions, and I’m looking forward to getting more time on it.

Joe Lindsey is a longtime freelance journalist who writes about sports and outdoors, health and fitness, and science and tech, especially where the three elements in that Venn diagram overlap.

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Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 review – a confident, capable gravel bike

Trek's updated aluminum checkpoint is a surefooted, confidence-inspiring ride that's perfect for ruined back lanes, byways and well-laden travels.

BikePerfect Verdict

The reshaped Checkpoint frame neatly combines confidence-inspiring stability with a fun, engaging feel which goes well at all speeds on all sorts of surfaces. This might not be the lightest or fanciest build, but the key bits are great and the rest just quietly works.

Stable and predictable

Comfortable

Great shifting and brakes

Gearing a bit tall for the weight

Could use a dropper post

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We'll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

The aluminium-framed ALR models sit at the bottom of Trek's Checkpoint range, with the lighter carbon SL and race-focused SLR bikes above, but in truth that's not a bad place to be. The ALR 5 gets a full set of excellent Shimano GRX components for the drivetrain and brakes, decent tires on tubeless-ready rims and lots of rack and fender mounts. 

The result is a surefooted, confident bike that's ready for exactly what Trek says it's for – gravel riding for fun, commuting or just general adventures. Which is pretty much what most people are after when looking for the best gravel bikes or best cheap gravel bikes .

Design and geometry

For 2023, the Checkpoint frame has seen some changes – basically it's got longer both in the front centre and the chainstays, and the stem is shorter to compensate. I tested a 58cm, and compared to the 2021 model it has 10mm longer chainstays, 20mm more reach and is 26mm longer overall. The 90mm stem and 60.9cm/41.1cm stack and reach figures keep the overall riding position fairly relaxed, with a usefully tall front end and slightly head-down, but certainly not front heavy, bias.

The head angle is the same as before at 72.3 degrees, presumably to keep the steering decently snappy, as is the bottom bracket drop at 7.4cm. 

This might be the 'poor man's' model with its humble alloy frame, but that doesn't mean it's unsophisticated. The various touring-friendly mounts are complimented by internally-routed cables that help a lot when strapping on frame bags or cages, as well as keeping them generally out of harm's way. I did find several of the bungs protecting the mounting/cable holes disappeared overboard on rough trails though, so if you want to keep filth out of your threads/frame you might want to stock up – or wind in some actual bolts where you can.

Components and build

Trek has spent the budget wisely here, speccing the excellent Shimano GRX shifters, levers and hydraulic brakes. The flat-fronted levers are particularly good for grip when it's rough, the shifts are always positive and the two-piston calipers are powerful and easy to modulate on the 160mm discs. Basically, the whole stop and go thing is covered perfectly.

Well, almost perfectly. The 2x11 drivetrain gives a very useable spread of ratios, but for the most serious off-road climbing it's a little high. At the top end it's good for 35mph before you spin out, which is great for the road and fireroad descents, but leaves the lowest gear (30/34t) slightly high for the steepest, techiest climbs. That's especially true if the bike's loaded up.

That's the lowest combination of ratios that will fit, though, so your options there are either to keep the bike as light as possible, fit a 1x crank and lose a fair bit of top speed, or get stronger...

The finishing kit is all in-house Bontrager stuff, and while it's all perfectly good they're pretty easy targets for weight loss upgrades. The Bontrager Elite Gravel bar is 44cm wide on this frame size with a good flare to the drops for extra leverage, and the comfy GRX hoods tilt inwards just enough to encourage a slightly elbows-out stance that's good for control.

The wheels – Switch hubs, 21mm wide Paradigm rims (the SL version on one end, presumably the front) and 24 spokes on each – are similarly utilitarian, being strong, middling for weight and entirely decent for the job. Wearing Aeolus XXX rim strips they're tubeless ready, and so are the Bontrager GR1 Team Issue tires, which is nice – in fact, Trek lists 6oz of its TLR sealant as a 'tire part,' so presumably consumer bikes are supplied already set, just as our test bike was.

The tires are predictable and confidence inspiring on the unusually dry terrain of our test period, as well as on tarmac both damp or dry, but are clearly not designed for mud. There's room in the frame for up to 45mm rubber should you want to go wider.

Oh, and while the front axle looks like you'll need to carry a hex key to get it out, the lever on the rear thru-axle actually pulls out to fit in either one. 

Performance

The Checkpoint has a confident feel – its length and reasonable heft keep it planted, while the steering is stable without being sluggish. It's the same whether you're on gravel or tarmac, and predictable in a friendly but not boring way. The chunky headtube and sizeable welded junctions do a great job of keeping it tracking where it's pointed in the rough.

Despite the chunky, almost box-section seatstays and generally rigid-feeling frame, it's comfortable for long rides, thanks to the high volume tyres, well-cushioned bar tape and a supportive, hammocky P3 Verse Comp saddle you really sit 'in'.

Get up some speed on gravel though and there's no disguising the aluminum build. By 30mph on a fireroad, your hands and feet are taking some serious vibes, and the chatter from sustained speed does reduce comfort. 

Switching to carbon at the bar (and at the Bontrager seatpost) would both increase comfort and reduce weight, and though I found the saddle supportive and comfy both for long rides and hard pedaling efforts, it does have steel rails – it's another easy and relatively cheap target for weight loss and vibe reduction.

Alternatively, if you want more speed whatever the trails do, fit the best dropper post that will suit the 27.2mm seat tube and reap the rewards.

Personally, I would have quite liked the shorter cranks of the smaller sizes instead of the 175mm GRX RX600s fitted here, which would allow an even lower BB for descending confidence, but that's really just preference. The 7.4cm BB drop is pretty low in the scheme of things, cornering feel is predictable, and ground clearance is good.

This is an extremely usable yet still very enjoyable bike. It nails that '2/3rds road bike, 1/3rd XC bike' feel that makes gravel bikes so good for so many things – commuting while avoiding the worst traffic, touring, exploring dilapidated rural lanes, getting in hard climbing efforts away from ANY traffic, or just generally getting out there and enjoying the view. 

It's comfortable and reassuring from the off whatever the surface, and the money's been spent in the right places – this is a really solid base for years of riding fun.

Test conditions

• Temperature: Rarely less than 20 degrees C and up to 35
• Conditions: Dry, hard and dusty with almost zero rain
• Trails: Mountain singletrack, bridleways, forest gravel and crumbling rural lanes

Tech specs: Trek Checkpoint ALR 5

• Price: $2,500 / £2,400
• Discipline: Gravel
• Frame size tested: 58cm
• Seat tube angle: 72.5°
• Head angle: 72.3°
• Effective top tube: 59.7cm
• Bottom bracket drop: 7.4cm
• Wheelbase: 105.8cm
• Reach: 41.1cm
• Frame: 300 Series Alpha Aluminium
• Tires: Bontrager GR1 Team Issue 40mm, Tubeless Ready 
• Drivetrain: Shimano GRX
• Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 (tested), 61cm
• Claimed weight: 9.75 kg / 21.5 lb (56cm)

Steve is a highly experienced journalist and rider who's been involved with bikes of all kinds for more years than he would care to remember. Based in South Wales, he has mile upon mile of swooping singletrack, an array of plummet and winch descents and everything in between right on his doorstep.

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Results have arrived, trek checkpoint al 4 gravel bike - 2019, 54cm, item #bgr11244, condition: certified pre-owned what's this, fit range: 5'8" - 5'11" sizing guide, every certified pre-owned bike passes our multi-point inspection.

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Trek Checkpoint ALR5 review

A fine all-rounder with special touches

Robert Smith / Immediate Media

Robin Wilmott

Fine frameset, good spec and great performance

It would be good to see bigger tyres fitted from new

Owing far more to the fantastic Boone and Crocket cyclocross bikes than Trek’s road models, the Checkpoint has all the bona fide features you would expect for a bike of this genre. There is also a feature you might not expect — adjustable rear dropouts to support singlespeed riders.

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Trek Checkpoint ALR5 frame and kit

My ALR5’s aluminium frame has classic looks with unfussy round or ovalised tubes, neat welds and glossy paintwork. It sports numerous mounts for racks front and rear, mudguards, options for one bottle-cage on the seat tube, two on top of the down tube, and one beneath it.

There’s neat internal cable and hose routing through the down tube via a single port, externally on the fork, and beneath the chainstays, and for those who think this bike has 21 gears too many, Trek’s adjustable Stranglehold dropouts allow conversion to singlespeed.

At first glance the barely more than 3mm gap between the left crank and chainstay could have been a concern, but it hasn’t proven to be.

For the dedicated gravelista, those same dropouts permit some wheelbase length alteration too, making room for bigger rubber — the ALR can take 45mm tyres — increasing stability, or keeping the rear-end tight.

In standard form, the ALR5 shares its chainstay length and wheelbase with the equivalent-sized Boone, has a slightly slacker seat angle and fractionally steeper head angle, with a shorter head-tube, longer effective top tube and lower bottom bracket.

All that boils down to a bike that, although not aimed at cyclocross-level technical riding, is quick over mixed terrain, and super-stable, making a solid platform to add some luggage to.

Trek Checkpoint ALR5 ride impressions

It shifts on tarmac, with 50psi in the 35mm Schwalbe G-One gravel tyres, clipping along at 18mph-plus wasn’t hard, and I pedalled away from a road bike or two.

Hitting the potholed, dirt road, the Checkpoint displayed ’cross-bike agility to carve lines around the worst obstructions, although its near-10kg weight almost grounded the first bunny hop I tried.

The ride quality is firm but well damped on rough tarmac, and much the same on hardpacked dirt or gravel. Although I’d rather see bigger tyres supplied, the relatively thin 35mm tyres, generous pressures and only limited assistance from the aluminium vibration-reducing, gel-padded bar and 27.2mm seatpost, mean seated comfort wouldn’t be a concern for lengthier rides.

The plush Montrose Comp saddle helps too. With heaps of flex from its surprisingly mobile shell, and a central cutout, it’s a good match.

The drivetrain is all Shimano 105, with the RS505 hydraulic levers and calipers stopping the bike effectively. A 50/34 compact chainset mated with 11-34 cassette gives good, closely spaced ratios in almost every circumstance, with a 1:1 lowest gear for big climb grinds.

The frame’s detailing is excellent, and even Bontrager’s TLR tubeless-ready wheelset feels quite willing in this build, but there is a maximum total weight limit, including rider and luggage, of 125kg.

They’ll never be a fast option, but the TLRs are pretty robust, versatile and will give good service. Turning them tubeless or replacing them with something friskier could turn a satisfyingly composed frameset into a contender for your do-it-all bike.

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• Rider Notes

2020 Trek Checkpoint AL 4

An aluminum frame gravel bike with mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. Compare the full range

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Checkpoint AL 4

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Updated geometry and differentiated models for speed, adventure, and all purpose riding

Read Review

Sept 2021 · Matthew Pioro

Also, a tour of the revamped Trek Checkpoint lineup of bikes and Adventure bags for mixed-surface adventures

Dec 2020 · Ben Delaney

Gravel bikes abound, but this one checks all the boxes, and at a great price.

Dec 2020 · Benjamin Topf

Trek includes adjustable chainstays on their Checkpoint SL 7 gravel bike and offers new options for future gravel adventures like single-speed builds.

King of the climbs

Quick acceleration

Consistent spec

Many mounting points

Undamped rear flex

Limited adjustment range of the seatmast cap

Tires need more support at high speeds

Jun 2020 · Laura Weislo

On early impressions, Trek's flagship gravel bike, the Checkpoint SL7, looks perfect for seekers of versatility and adventure

Lightweight, agile and responsive ride

IsoSpeed shock adds comfort

Underbody protection for the eye-popping paint job

SRAM Force eTap AXS 1X drive not suited to mixed road/gravel

Top tube is too wide near the seat tube

Toe overlap in the smallest size

Mar 2020 · Abby Mickey

Trek’s Checkpoint was the most popular gravel bike of 2019, according to data Strava sent over last fall. Trek has sold a lot of them. This suggests that it’s a good bike, and indeed it is. But we found that it is good in a generic, pop-music, lowest-common-denominator, unoffensive-to-all kind of way. It takes few […]

An incredibly affordable bike that functions beyond its price, great for bikepacking, commuting, secret “groad” with your buddies, and more.

Heavy. It’s heavy. Also, it definitely needs a tire upgrade from the ones that come with it.

Mar 2020 · Dale Tiessen

Out of the saddle putting down maximum power into the Checkpoint, it feels like a nice carbon road bike.

Feb 2020 · Robin Wilmott

All-road versatility with refined road manners for a fine riding machine

Frame design and mounts, hydraulic Tiagra groupset

Chirpy mudguards

Last updated 11 September Not listed for 1,296 days

• Checkpoint ALR 4