Trek Checkpoint

Wow. Where to start with this build? There's a lot of detail packed into this understated grey/black bike...

Gravel/Adventure has been booming for a while now, with a wealth of choices from smaller brands, but Trek didn't rush to market with their own entry. No doubt they wanted to make sure it wasn't just a flash in the pan, plus of course it takes a while for their massive R&D resources and production lines to get up to speed.

But it was worth the wait - the Checkpoint is a carefully considered entrance to the gravel/adventure scene, taking the lessons learnt by the pioneers and adding in a dose of Trek's own expertise. That rear IsoSpeed decoupler is their trump card, adding a good measure of extra comfort on rough surfaces without compromising handling or efficiency.

Trek's own Stranglehold dropouts allow for 15mm of fore/aft adjustment of the rear wheel, so this bike can easily be run singlespeed or geared. But it also means you can easily adjust the wheelbase: Want to run it short and nippy for raceday? No problem. Or extend it to the max for bikepacking/touring? Easily done - and yet it every position it retains the strength and security benefits of the 12mm thru-axle.

The frame is packed with all the details you'd expect; hidden mudguard and rack mounts, flat mount disc brakes, internal cable routing, even a chain keeper. But there's more to this build than just the frame...

The wheels are the first thing to catch your eye. Yes, those are Mavic Open Pro rims - the new generation. Mavic have finally updated their classic road rim (it's been quite the wait!) and in the process made it more versatile than ever. 4mm wider (giving a 19mm internal width) the Open Pro are now available in a disc-specific version, but retain the classic eyelets for maximum strength and longevity. These custom built wheels see the Open Pros laced to a DT Swiss 240 hub on the rear - bombproof reliability and superb engineering. They're also tubeless ready - as proven here with Schwalbe's Pro One tubeless tyres ready for action.

At the front things get even more interesting, with perhaps the highlight of this build... a SON Hub Dynamo provides power for your LED lights, a brilliant example of long-established tech brought bang up to date. Weighing in at just 400g, this is a superb choice for endurance riding. 6 volts/3 Watts of power always on hand, no stress about batteries. All in a compact package, beautifully engineered and manufactured in Germany and fully compatible with the latest 12mm thru-axle and centrelock disc standards.

Proof that "big brand" bikes don't have to be cookie-cutter copies of each other - this Trek has been carefully specced to provide exactly what its new owner needs (and being Bespoke we've naturally made sure that it's the perfect fit). If this has piqued your interest, get in touch!