Trek Checkpoint SL6 for commuter use - opinions?

[Shut Up Legs]

I saw a Trek Checkpoint SL6 in a local bike store, and have been going back to check it (excuse the pun ) the last few weekends. It has some nice attributes, including

• heaps of tyre clearance, making it easy to install either fixed or clip-on mudguards;
• adjustable rear dropouts for adjusting the wheel base; and
• numerous mounts on the frame for bidon cages, mudguards and racks.

It got a mixed review (https://road.cc/content/review/243301-trek-checkpoint-sl-6), because according to the reviewer it's less than ideal for off-road use which is apparently one of the use cases it was designed for. However, if I bought it for commuting, I'm reasonably sure it would perform that function fairly well.

I would most likely have to buy its 58cm size, as I'm 190cm tall with reasonably long legs, which unfortunately means I generally have to buy larger framed (and therefore heavier) bikes, which certainly doesn't help my power-to-weight ratio. The 56cm size apparently weighs 8.95kg, and this site (https://pelotonmagazine.com/gear/trek-checkpoint-super-versatile-gravel-rig-from-trek/) says

Our Checkpoint SL6 test bike is a size 61cm, and with the Ultegra build, Bontrager Paradigm wheels, Bontrager alloy cockpit, carbon seat mast, Bontrager Montrose saddle and Schwalbe G-One tires our test bike weighs 8.89kg/19.5lbs.

This compares well with my current commuter, a 15kg Vivente World Randonneur tourer.

The cost (at least here in Australia) is about $4700 which is about £2600. I don't know how that compares to UK prices, but too many things cost far too much in Australia.

Opinions, anyone? Be brutally honest: I haven't decided to buy this bike, it's only caught my interest.

Regards & thanks,

--- Victor.

 

[lazyfatgit]

I'm riding near a Trek dealer on the weekend. If I get a chance I'll pop and see if they have one on the floor. Any excuse to go to a bike shop.

 

[Arjimlad]

My Giant Revolt was billed as that sort of gravel/adventure bike and whilst it is nowhere near the spec of that bike (Claris, QR wheels and basic mechanical disc brakes), I can see why the reviewer says what he does about it. It does look as if it would be fine for what you intend, especially as you won't (presumably) have the winter salt, ice & filth that we endure in the UK.

I have used my Revolt on off-road trails & needed that small front ring on the triple chainset. On road I hardly ever use it.

I use this bike chiefly for wet/winter commuting and family riding, for which it is good. The higher spec of that bike would answer all of my gripes with the Revolt (the weight, the QR wheels rather than thru-axle and the attention-seeking brakes).

 

[John_S]

Hi Shut Up Legs,

I certainly wouldn't let the review put you off the bike if you like it yourself if the reviews main criticism was about it's off road performance if that isn't what you intend using it for.

I'd focus on whether or not the bike can do the job that you want it for. Can you get the shop to let you have a test ride because that's probably the best thing to do and to then use the bike over your intended commuting route to see if it works for you over that terrain. I don't know what sort roads you commute, if for example it's all tarmac or mixed tarmac and off road, but presumably you're maybe looking at a gravel bike as a bike which gives you that bit of flexibility, e.g. ability to run larger tyres and fit mudguards/racks etc. but you perhaps don't need a full blown touring bike which you'd be able to fit the same accessories to but might be overkill if it's just lightweight commuting that you're doing as opposed to full blown heavily laden touring.

I found it interesting you mention the frame size as well as your body proportions having long legs and that influencing your frame size choice. Rather than just offering step ups in frame size I wish that more bike companies would take a leaf out of the Fairlight Cycles ( https://fairlightcycles.com ) book and offer different geometry in the same frame size. This would take account of different body types such as long legs shorter torso. Whilst this isn't the same as a completely bespoke made to measure frame from a custom frame builder what Fairlight do is offer both a Regular and Tall version of all their frames so that it's more likely that you'll get a frame which fits you. This video does a far better job than me of explaining it.

View: https://vimeo.com/180866780


Fairlight call this their Proportional Geometry principle and it suits me because I suit a taller stack and shorter reach and so their Tall version of a frame suits me down to the ground.

Also if you don't already have the benefit of bike fit data for you don't have to be an expert in order to figure out which frame size and version (regular or tall) is correct for you because all you do is select the model of bike that you want from the Fairlight website and then you can enter both your height and inside leg measurement and it will recommend which frame is best for you and reference riding style as well. I know that this works for their Strael model (https://road.cc/content/review/240016-fairlight-cycles-strael-20 ) but I'm not sure if this online calculator is available for their new Secan ( https://road.cc/content/review/248008-fairlight-cycles-secan ) but I think that they've said you can use the Strael calculator as a guide for the Secan as well or if you contact them with your measurements they'd probably help if you were interested in their bikes. Given your reference to your uses either their Secan or their Faran would probably be best for you but with the Faran there's a new version on the horizon. I'm not sure how much they'd cost in Australia but I'm sure I've seen people in Australia with Fairlight bikes. I've out some other Secan video links below just in case they're of interest.

View: https://youtu.be/0PA7JxR5_MU

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/244000-new-fairlight-cycles-secan-ready-gritfest-weekend

View: https://youtu.be/gHJEpUycmjQ



Anyway and having got distracted from the bike in question and back to the Checkpoint and you may have already done this but I'd read as many different reviews as you can because the reviews can be influenced by the reviewer, perspective that they're looking at it from and the territory that they're and the terrain/uses they test it over.

https://cyclingtips.com/2018/03/trek-checkpoint-review/

https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/gravel/product/trek-checkpoint-review-51847/


As mentioned there's probably no substitute for getting a test ride on the Checkpoint to try it yourself over the commute routes that you'll be riding. However if in the end the Checkpoint doesn't work for you then there's no end of gravel/adventure type bikes now available which might fit the bill for you.

Good luck bike hunting and if you buy the Checkpoint I hope that you enjoy it!

John

 

[Pale Rider]

Does altering the wheelbase by less than an inch really make any difference?

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Hi Shut Up Legs,

I certainly wouldn't let the review put you off the bike if you like it yourself if the reviews main criticism was about it's off road performance if that isn't what you intend using it for.

I'd focus on whether or not the bike can do the job that you want it for. Can you get the shop to let you have a test ride because that's probably the best thing to do and to then use the bike over your intended commuting route to see if it works for you over that terrain. I don't know what sort roads you commute, if for example it's all tarmac or mixed tarmac and off road, but presumably you're maybe looking at a gravel bike as a bike which gives you that bit of flexibility, e.g. ability to run larger tyres and fit mudguards/racks etc. but you perhaps don't need a full blown touring bike which you'd be able to fit the same accessories to but might be overkill if it's just lightweight commuting that you're doing as opposed to full blown heavily laden touring.

I found it interesting you mention the frame size as well as your body proportions having long legs and that influencing your frame size choice. Rather than just offering step ups in frame size I wish that more bike companies would take a leaf out of the Fairlight Cycles ( https://fairlightcycles.com ) book and offer different geometry in the same frame size. This would take account of different body types such as long legs shorter torso. Whilst this isn't the same as a completely bespoke made to measure frame from a custom frame builder what Fairlight do is offer both a Regular and Tall version of all their frames so that it's more likely that you'll get a frame which fits you. This video does a far better job than me of explaining it.

View: https://vimeo.com/180866780


Fairlight call this their Proportional Geometry principle and it suits me because I suit a taller stack and shorter reach and so their Tall version of a frame suits me down to the ground.

Also if you don't already have the benefit of bike fit data for you don't have to be an expert in order to figure out which frame size and version (regular or tall) is correct for you because all you do is select the model of bike that you want from the Fairlight website and then you can enter both your height and inside leg measurement and it will recommend which frame is best for you and reference riding style as well. I know that this works for their Strael model (https://road.cc/content/review/240016-fairlight-cycles-strael-20 ) but I'm not sure if this online calculator is available for their new Secan ( https://road.cc/content/review/248008-fairlight-cycles-secan ) but I think that they've said you can use the Strael calculator as a guide for the Secan as well or if you contact them with your measurements they'd probably help if you were interested in their bikes. Given your reference to your uses either their Secan or their Faran would probably be best for you but with the Faran there's a new version on the horizon. I'm not sure how much they'd cost in Australia but I'm sure I've seen people in Australia with Fairlight bikes. I've out some other Secan video links below just in case they're of interest.

View: https://youtu.be/0PA7JxR5_MU

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/244000-new-fairlight-cycles-secan-ready-gritfest-weekend

View: https://youtu.be/gHJEpUycmjQ



Anyway and having got distracted from the bike in question and back to the Checkpoint and you may have already done this but I'd read as many different reviews as you can because the reviews can be influenced by the reviewer, perspective that they're looking at it from and the territory that they're and the terrain/uses they test it over.

https://cyclingtips.com/2018/03/trek-checkpoint-review/

https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/gravel/product/trek-checkpoint-review-51847/


As mentioned there's probably no substitute for getting a test ride on the Checkpoint to try it yourself over the commute routes that you'll be riding. However if in the end the Checkpoint doesn't work for you then there's no end of gravel/adventure type bikes now available which might fit the bill for you.

Good luck bike hunting and if you buy the Checkpoint I hope that you enjoy it!

John

Thanks, John, a very detailed reply and I really appreciate it. You've given me much to think on.

Regards,

--- Victor.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Does altering the wheelbase by less than an inch really make any difference?

I don't know, but the designers of the bike clearly thought it was important enough. I'm no expert on bike geometry.

 

[John_S]

Hi Shut Up Legs,

It's no problem and I hope that some of the info is useful and hope that you find the right bike for you. Hopefully the Checkpoint works out for you but even if it doesn't there are now dozens of other choices of bikes that will offer similar versatility and for example just a few are shown on the link below but other websites highlight other bikes as well as there being bikes out there that don't get as much media attention as others.

https://road.cc/content/buyers-guid...re-bikes-super-versatile-bikes-are-home-lanes

One reason that I mentioned Fairlight Cycles is that it's not too often that you hear of cycling journalists ending up putting their own money into buying the bikes that they review. Now cycling journalists get to test loads of bikes that many of us can only just dream about getting the chance to try let alone own and it must be great fun (I'm just a little bit (ok quite a bit) jealous). Anyway recently I've seen at least a couple of examples of people being involved in testing/reviewing Fairlight bikes and then they end up buying one for the themselves. Now given the number & sheer variety of bikes that people in the cycling media must try that must speak volumes for how well received they must have been. There's been the guy from Road.cc who has bought a Secan and I think that I read somewhere on Road.cc that it's more than one of the Road.cc staff who have bought a bike but I'm not sure whether it's just the Secan's that they bought or also a Strael.

Then I also read about Jelle Mul who works for outdoor clothing company Patagonia and he had something to do with using a Fairlight Faran and then ended up buying one afterwards which you can see in his Instagram feed and I thought that there was something about it on Fairlight's Instagram but I can't see it now.

https://www.instagram.com/jellemul
https://www.instagram.com/fairlightcycles/

Given the surfing connection I thought that Jelle Mul had something to do with this Pannier.cc film but I can't see their name credited now so it might have been something else that had them involved in testing a bike.

https://www.pannier.cc/journal/beyond-the-north-wind-tour-headwindhaters-film-bikesurfing


Whatever new bike you end up with I hope that you enjoy it and hopefully it does a great job for you on your commute and any other uses that you have planned.

John

 

[StuAff]

Opinions vary on the Checkpoint's gravel abilities. Ben Delaney, the US BikeRadar editor, reviewed it, liked it…liked it so much he did the Dirty Kanza 200 on one. And gravel bikes make excellent endurance/touring/commuting bikes. Fat road tyres are not slow...I'd be very happy with a Checkpoint, I'm sure. Particularly at the price you quoted...if you can get it for the equivalent of £2.6k that's a bargain, in the UK it's £3400!