2023 Trek Checkpoint ALR5 Review

It's been a while, but at least this makes it a long term review?
Presenting the 2023 Trek Checkpoint ALR5, Trek's most affordable gravel bike that has great all-round performance for commuting, bike paths, gravel, and roads. But what if we take things up a notch or two?
The audio is scuffed, so here's a written review with 100% less wind noise:
throughanamate...
Until next time, keep riding and stay awesome!

[@riffmeisterkl]

Thanks for the review. Am both a mtb rider and roadie now looking for a gravel. This may fit the bill as on sale at the moment.

[@riffmeisterkl]

How much pressure in those tires on the single track?

[@lee-annmurphy9237]

Cheers for this vlog 👍 I'm in-between I can decide on this bike or the fx4 sport carbon bike, I'm not sure I can get on with the drops ATM I'm on the fx3 disk ,if I buy this one I may add flat bars 🙏😉☺️👌

[@throughanamateurseyes5390]

The FX Sport was definitely a bike I did consider for a while because I own the 2017 FX-1, so the idea of a better performing flat bar bike did appeal to me. One thing I did cut from this review was how I inverted the stem to run angle up to reduce the pressure on my abdomen and back, making it feel better on drops, hoods or even the flats. Personally, I didn’t like the drops at first and I rarely use them still, but with 80-ish percent of my time spent on the hoods like in the video and the remainder shuffling between drop and flat, I wouldn’t change to a flat bar until you see certain you can’t make the stock bars work? Keep riding and stay awesome 👍

[@lee-annmurphy9237]

@throughanamateurseyes5390 I'm having another demo on Wednesday with the gravel bike I do want it to work with the drops tbh as I feel its a better and lighter bike and I'm worried the fx sport4 won't be much better than the fx3 that I have.

[@throughanamateurseyes5390]

@@lee-annmurphy9237 It really depends on why you are buying either bike to begin with? I look at the FX4 Sport as a better bike path cruiser and competent commuter, while the Checkpoint ALR5 is an excellent all round gravel bike. The main point against the FX4 Sport is the limits of the geometry for speed and the single chain ring reducing gear ratios, but these are also strengths in a comfortable geometry for upright pedalling (a reason why I did consider this at one point as a mountain biker) and the single chain ring does reduce maintenance and complexity of the drive system. The Checkpoint is almost $1000 AUD more expensive and does have the drop bars and gravel bike geometry, but again for the extra money the Shimano GRX components specced are bulletproof and the gravel bike geometry does mean you could put fat road bike tyres for a stable commuter, thinner road tyres for a long reach road bike, or stick with gravel tyres for something to ride all roads when you come across them. Either bike is a win, just depends on if you want to pedal upright for your ride and have a less complex drivetrain, or have drop bars and a great entry point to gravel riding?

[@lee-annmurphy9237]

I chose the gravel bike,🎉 Trek have been fantastic allowed me to have 2 demos ,I'm allowed to pay for it over the coming weeks 👍 ,I chose the gravel because i can still use it to commute like my hybrid ,but unlike my hybrid i can go loads of other places we can't wait to do bike packing adventures and I'll be able to carry all the kit win win 😊

[@ToddChaddingtonEsq]

@@lee-annmurphy9237 once you get used to the drop bars you'll regret not having switched sooner