r/CheckpointClub

Buying a gravel bike for my partner and have the option of Apex Mechanical 1x12 on the ALR5 or CUES 1x11 on ALR4. Is ALR 4 a better choice over ALR5?

I’ve got the Apex AXS 1x12 on my SL5 which is great, but I’m hearing that Apex mechanical is quite a different experience and potentially a worse shifting experience than Cues supposedly smoother.

Is this accurate at all? Eager to hear your thoughts

Thanks

Hi everyone! I wanted to share my experience after around 500km on my new bike - Trek checkpoint SL5 Gen3. The mods that i did on the day of purchase (meaning i didnt try the stock config):

• wheels: Elitewheels Gravel Aero+ (32mm internal)
• tires: Schwalbe G-One RS Pro 50mm tubeless
• derailleur: GX Eagle T-Type AXS (from apex xplr axs)
• casette: SRAM XS-1275 GX T-Type Eagle 10-52 (from stock apex 11-44)

The bike feels amazing and fast, the tires with 1.7 bar feel so comforable on gravel. If anyone was wondering there is still plenty of clearance with that setup (11mm rearside, 11mm rear up, 11m frontside, 21mm front up). The tires measure exactly 50mm on these rims, might go even wider one day. Let me know in the comments if anyone tried wider with that setup.

Few notes though: coming from Shimano Deore XT Di2 with hydraulic brakes, the SRAM Apex brakes feel a bit worse, you have to really squeeze it hard sometimes. Wondering if there are any mods to be done to improve this. Another thing is that the drivetrain starts making noises after just like 50km on gravel, it seems weird, my old bike wasnt like that - Now I have to clean and wax it after every ride, does anyone else have that?

https://preview.redd.it/4o83p22kg32h1.png?width=2154&format=png&auto=webp&s=f09c5cda85507316741e9a8d8664f2125e4fb150

I have a Gen2 Checkpoint SL6. I'm thinking of upgrading from the stock wheels to some Zipp 303 XPLRs (or perhaps Fulcrum Sharqs, haven't decided yet, but leaning towards the Zipps).

I understand I can run 50mm tires on a Gen2 Checkpoint, but what is the tire clearance like; especially when mounting them on a wide rim like the Zipps? The trails around here are mainly fine gravel. Should I play it safe and get 45mm tires instead?

Can I run the Zipps with a tube should I get a flat, or are they strictly tubeless?

Also, I don't know much about hookless rims, but I take it I will need to mount them with hookless specific tires like those on Zipp's recommended tire list? I won't be able to use the stock Bontrager tires that came with the bike until they wear out?

Thanks.

I want to get any color except black. Any recommendation. I am thinking of blue one up or purple but help needed. Thanks

I am looking to beef up my tires. My '23 ALR5 stock tires have been fine though sometimes blazing through forest I feel pretty unhinged. Am about to do a weekend ride that I did last year and remember unpleasant section of miles of steep washboard.

It looks like from other posts 45s could be all around good for forest dirt, chunky gravel, while also sometimes having mixed terrain (I have a road bike for all road). Is 45 going to be enough of a difference? Any current recs?

I am a bigger guy, 310 lbs. I have a 2023 Trek Checkpoint Sl 5 gen 2. I have Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 wheels. I know the bike is fine if I am just riding it, but, I am wanting to take it on a one bike packing trip. I am currently working on getting the weight off but I was wondering how much weight the carbon Checkpoint can really hold and how much am I "stressing" it out?

Just joined a bike club and most people have road bikes. To save money from buying another bike, I was thinking of just swapping the wheels and tires of my Gen 3 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5. Has anyone done this and if so, what wheelset would you recommend? Did you notice a big change for road riding?