Help choosing Gravel Bike
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2024
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Help choosing Gravel Bike
I am just getting into gravel cycling and am looking for my first bike. I am torn between the Trek Checkpoint AL5 and the Speacialized Diverge Comp E5. Both have things I like. I would be using it for a mix of gravel and paved.
#2
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,617
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10970 Post(s)
Liked 7,496 Times
in
4,192 Posts
...but that's me and my size and what I value.
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2024
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I’m 5’8 so in most bikes I’m a 54. I am definitely looking for comfort for longer rides. I’m also open to anything in the $2,000 range.
#4
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 46
Bikes: ‘23 Salsa Cutthroat, ‘12 Cannondale Synapse, ‘09 Cannondale Rize, ‘00 Jamis Tangier, ‘87 Trek 1000
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 50 Times
in
27 Posts
As mstateglfr stated the geometries are different enough to make an appreciable difference. The Diverge has a taller stack and shorter reach. You’ll be a bit more upright and not as stretched out. If you’re like me you’ll find that much more comfortable especially for longer rides. Good luck in your search.
Cheers,
Scott
Cheers,
Scott
#6
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 46
Bikes: ‘23 Salsa Cutthroat, ‘12 Cannondale Synapse, ‘09 Cannondale Rize, ‘00 Jamis Tangier, ‘87 Trek 1000
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 50 Times
in
27 Posts
Cheers,
Scott
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,764
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
761 Posts
You're going to get a million leads. Just to add a couple I used when looking at a good value a year or so ago:
Check out the Salsa Journeyer options at REI. They have a bunch of options/price points. I bought the two cheapest options ~$1k each for my wife and my "travel bikes" which we leave in the RV in another state. One is a 2x8 Shimano the other 1x9 Microshift. Both work very well and were good values. If I had a $2k budget There's excellent, upgraded options. One reason I went with the REI option is that it gave the benefit of ordering online and having it delivered and assembled at REI. But they're just good bikes for the price.
Also, check out Poseidon. They have great value and have a good reputation - search the forums on that word and you'll find a bunch of owners. If you're comfortable assembling and tuning a bike, you might check them out.
Check out the Salsa Journeyer options at REI. They have a bunch of options/price points. I bought the two cheapest options ~$1k each for my wife and my "travel bikes" which we leave in the RV in another state. One is a 2x8 Shimano the other 1x9 Microshift. Both work very well and were good values. If I had a $2k budget There's excellent, upgraded options. One reason I went with the REI option is that it gave the benefit of ordering online and having it delivered and assembled at REI. But they're just good bikes for the price.
Also, check out Poseidon. They have great value and have a good reputation - search the forums on that word and you'll find a bunch of owners. If you're comfortable assembling and tuning a bike, you might check them out.
Likes For Camilo:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern VA
Posts: 1,727
Bikes: 2022 Fuel EX 8, 2021 Domane SL6, Black Beta (Nashbar frame), 2004 Trek 1000C for the trainer
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 272 Post(s)
Liked 448 Times
in
267 Posts
You're going to get a million leads. Just to add a couple I used when looking at a good value a year or so ago:
Check out the Salsa Journeyer options at REI. They have a bunch of options/price points. I bought the two cheapest options ~$1k each for my wife and my "travel bikes" which we leave in the RV in another state. One is a 2x8 Shimano the other 1x9 Microshift. Both work very well and were good values. If I had a $2k budget There's excellent, upgraded options. One reason I went with the REI option is that it gave the benefit of ordering online and having it delivered and assembled at REI. But they're just good bikes for the price.
Also, check out Poseidon. They have great value and have a good reputation - search the forums on that word and you'll find a bunch of owners. If you're comfortable assembling and tuning a bike, you might check them out.
Check out the Salsa Journeyer options at REI. They have a bunch of options/price points. I bought the two cheapest options ~$1k each for my wife and my "travel bikes" which we leave in the RV in another state. One is a 2x8 Shimano the other 1x9 Microshift. Both work very well and were good values. If I had a $2k budget There's excellent, upgraded options. One reason I went with the REI option is that it gave the benefit of ordering online and having it delivered and assembled at REI. But they're just good bikes for the price.
Also, check out Poseidon. They have great value and have a good reputation - search the forums on that word and you'll find a bunch of owners. If you're comfortable assembling and tuning a bike, you might check them out.
OP on your choices be sure to compare different sizes. The number sizes vary. I’m 6’-1” and would ride a 56cm Checkpoint.
#9
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 46
Bikes: ‘23 Salsa Cutthroat, ‘12 Cannondale Synapse, ‘09 Cannondale Rize, ‘00 Jamis Tangier, ‘87 Trek 1000
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 50 Times
in
27 Posts
Camilo makes a good recommendation with the Salsa Journeyer. I really like Salsa bikes. I’d recommend that you take a close look at the Salsa Fargo also. It’s a fantastic gravel bike with substantial clearance for larger tires and when the ride gets muddy. It can handle rougher roads and singletrack as well.
Cheers,
Scott
Cheers,
Scott
Likes For Samac:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,764
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
761 Posts
Camilo makes a good recommendation with the Salsa Journeyer. I really like Salsa bikes. I’d recommend that you take a close look at the Salsa Fargo also. It’s a fantastic gravel bike with substantial clearance for larger tires and when the ride gets muddy. It can handle rougher roads and singletrack as well.
Cheers,
Scott
Cheers,
Scott
Likes For Camilo:
#11
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,617
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10970 Post(s)
Liked 7,496 Times
in
4,192 Posts
If you have, what do you like/dislike about the bikes?
If you haven't, go do that. You will actually experience the bikes and get more valuable feedback that what you will get here.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,886
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3242 Post(s)
Liked 2,089 Times
in
1,182 Posts
Pretty sure REI sells the Cannondale Topstone. Good bike. I use this with a 2nd wheelset with 28mm slicks, it’s my easy spin road bike, I can run less air in these tires on wider rims, makes it pretty comfortable,
Likes For Steve B.:
#13
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,666
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1949 Post(s)
Liked 1,474 Times
in
1,021 Posts
Do you have an existing road bike that you like? If so, it can serve as a frame geometry reference against which to compare both the Trek Checkpoint AL5 and the Specialized Diverge Comp E5, so you can tell which one you would likely feel more comfortable on.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,886
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3242 Post(s)
Liked 2,089 Times
in
1,182 Posts
Good advice. Matching known good geometry is a really good way to find a new bike.
#15
Junior Member
I tried to buy a Trek Checkpoint AL5 during the pandemic as a second gravel bike. I thought it was a good package for the money, but the wait list was stretching out to almost a year, so I passed.
As others have pointed out, ride each one and see how they feel. Personally, I am not a fan of the Specialized Future Shock. I tend to hang on to my bikes for a long time and I have been burned in the past when a manufacturer no longer supported a "proprietary" part. I don't know how much maintenance this thing needs, but I would ask the shop about it. I may be nitpicking, but I have had bikes tied up in a shop for weeks while they tried to find proprietary wheel spokes (in one case), or a third-party shop that would service a "Brain" unit when the Specialized stopped offering service on them after only five years.
As others have pointed out, ride each one and see how they feel. Personally, I am not a fan of the Specialized Future Shock. I tend to hang on to my bikes for a long time and I have been burned in the past when a manufacturer no longer supported a "proprietary" part. I don't know how much maintenance this thing needs, but I would ask the shop about it. I may be nitpicking, but I have had bikes tied up in a shop for weeks while they tried to find proprietary wheel spokes (in one case), or a third-party shop that would service a "Brain" unit when the Specialized stopped offering service on them after only five years.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Jose
Posts: 1,025
Bikes: Blur / Ibis Hakka MX / team machince alr2 / topstone 1
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 426 Post(s)
Liked 274 Times
in
201 Posts
This ^^^. I am not a fan of the future shock either. I would avoid the Diverge. I would look into an alloy topstone 1 with 2x grx group set. It can double as a nice endurance road bike with two wheel sets.
I have seen a few places that have the topstone on sale.
https://www.google.com/search?client...shock+problems
I have seen a few places that have the topstone on sale.
https://www.google.com/search?client...shock+problems