I now own three bikes, but I promise I’m done. After thirteen months, I have finally secured my much-desired gravel bike. It’s a 2022 Trek Checkpoint SL6 and it is AWESOME! I ordered the 2021 version back in February of 2021, but it never arrived due to all the issues brought about by COVID. I canceled my order many months ago, frustrated with no real desire to pursue the bike again. That changed a few months ago when I was encouraged to ride in The RAGBRAI again and was actually able to secure the vacation time AND convince Natalie to join me for her first big ride across Iowa. Earlier this week I realized that there was ONE Checkpoint left in Illinois that was the correct frame size for me and I jumped in the car and drove to the Trek Store in Highland Park, IL in order to pick it up.

Measuring my old bike’s geometry at the Highland Park Trek store
The new bike getting adjusted for my trial ride

My original road bike is a sixteen-year-old carbon fiber Project One Trek Pilot 5.9 that I purchased back in 2006. It was (and still is) a GREAT bike and I have ridden thousands upon thousands of miles on it over the years. Sadly, I am starting to feel (albeit only slightly) the wear and tear on my neck and shoulders when riding traditional road bikes with longer reaches. The geometry of the gravel bike is such that it allows for a more upright riding position, still incorporates drops handlebars, and also allows for interchangeable tires that are made specifically for gravel, dirt, or road. Bottom line, this bike is made for 55-year-old guys that want one bike to do all things well (but not necessarily fast).

Decked out with Adventure Bags
The in-frame storage compartment
SRAM Rival eTap AXS derailleur on the Trek Checkpoint SL 6.
The 2022 Checkpoint comes with 700c x 40c tires. It can run tires as wide as 45 mm. It can also handle 650b x 2.1″
The IsoSpeed system in the seat tube of the Trek Checkpoint SL 6 damps vibrations from the road

All hydraulic brake lines are hidden inside the frame and the SRAM Rival eTap AXS derailleur is completely wireless (NO CABLES!) If you are familiar with Trek’s road bikes, you’ll know about IsoSpeed, the company’s vibration damping technology. On the Checkpoint SLR, there’s IsoSpeed in the top tube near the seat post to give the seat post more flex. Also, in the down tube, at the bottle cage mounts, is a storage compartment. You can put stuff in here that you’d usually keep in a seat bag, such as a multi-tool, CO2, and tube. The bike also has mounts under the top tube for affixing Bontrager’s new frame bag, as well as mounts for a top-tube bag and fenders which I plan to use while on the RAGBRAI this year.

I’m looking forward to getting out on the road this spring and starting to train again for some fun rides later this summer!