Aluminium gravel bike Trek Checkpoint ALR 3 carmine: Shimano CUES 1x10, carbon fork, 10.41 kg in ML

Trek Checkpoint ALR 3 Dark Carmine: discovering gravel the simple way

The Trek Checkpoint ALR 3 Gen 3 is the entry-level Checkpoint: Alpha 300 Series aluminium frame, full-carbon fork, Shimano CUES 1x10 drivetrain with an 11-48 cassette and mechanical disc brakes, weighing 10.41 kg in size ML. It keeps the mounts and 50 mm tyre clearance of the higher models. Its Dark Carmine finish is a deep, dark carmine red with a hint of burgundy.

Technical specifications

Who is it for?

For the cyclist discovering gravel who wants a simple, robust, complete bike, or for someone looking for an everyday bike that can commute during the week and hit the tracks at the weekend. It also suits a young adult or an occasional rider.

The LVR workshop view

Alpha aluminium, Trek's expertise. Alpha is the name Trek gives to its aluminium alloys, and the 300 Series is its most refined level. The tubes are hydroformed, meaning shaped by fluid pressure, which allows their profile and wall thickness to be tuned to each area of the frame. The welds are smoothed and the cables run internally: the Checkpoint ALR 3 looks like a more expensive bike, with a painted frame of 1,878 g in size M.

In short: aluminium does not make the Checkpoint less capable, it makes it heavier and less vibration-damping than the carbon version. With this frame, it is the carbon fork and the 42 mm tyres that provide most of the comfort, and aluminium copes well with the small knocks of parking and transport.

The Tektro C550 brakes are cable-actuated, with two pistons that clamp the rotor from both sides. Their maintenance is within anyone's reach: a cable adjustment and wear take-up are all it takes, with no fluid bleed. They need a little more effort at the lever than hydraulic brakes on long descents.

The Shimano CUES Linkglide drivetrain is built to last: its thicker sprockets resist wear better, a real advantage for a bike that is ridden often and hard. The 40x48 gives a very low gear for climbing the garrigue hills around Béziers, and the 40x11 is enough for road journeys.

Which Checkpoint should you choose?

Our take: the ALR 4 keeps the same frame and weight but moves to hydraulic brakes and 11 speeds; the ALR 5 drops to 9.87 kg with a 12-speed SRAM Apex groupset.

Your questions

Why buy from LVR Cycles? As a Trek dealer in Béziers, we build and set up your first gravel bike in our workshop, fit mudguards and a rack if needed and advise you on your first routes.

Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.