trek alr 5 checkpoint

Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 review – a confident, capable gravel bike

Trek's updated aluminum checkpoint is a surefooted, confidence-inspiring ride that's perfect for ruined back lanes, byways and well-laden travels.

BikePerfect Verdict

The reshaped Checkpoint frame neatly combines confidence-inspiring stability with a fun, engaging feel which goes well at all speeds on all sorts of surfaces. This might not be the lightest or fanciest build, but the key bits are great and the rest just quietly works.

Stable and predictable

Comfortable

Great shifting and brakes

Gearing a bit tall for the weight

Could use a dropper post

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We'll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

The aluminium-framed ALR models sit at the bottom of Trek's Checkpoint range, with the lighter carbon SL and race-focused SLR bikes above, but in truth that's not a bad place to be. The ALR 5 gets a full set of excellent Shimano GRX components for the drivetrain and brakes, decent tires on tubeless-ready rims and lots of rack and fender mounts. 

The result is a surefooted, confident bike that's ready for exactly what Trek says it's for – gravel riding for fun, commuting or just general adventures. Which is pretty much what most people are after when looking for the best gravel bikes or best cheap gravel bikes .

Design and geometry

For 2023, the Checkpoint frame has seen some changes – basically it's got longer both in the front centre and the chainstays, and the stem is shorter to compensate. I tested a 58cm, and compared to the 2021 model it has 10mm longer chainstays, 20mm more reach and is 26mm longer overall. The 90mm stem and 60.9cm/41.1cm stack and reach figures keep the overall riding position fairly relaxed, with a usefully tall front end and slightly head-down, but certainly not front heavy, bias.

The head angle is the same as before at 72.3 degrees, presumably to keep the steering decently snappy, as is the bottom bracket drop at 7.4cm. 

This might be the 'poor man's' model with its humble alloy frame, but that doesn't mean it's unsophisticated. The various touring-friendly mounts are complimented by internally-routed cables that help a lot when strapping on frame bags or cages, as well as keeping them generally out of harm's way. I did find several of the bungs protecting the mounting/cable holes disappeared overboard on rough trails though, so if you want to keep filth out of your threads/frame you might want to stock up – or wind in some actual bolts where you can.

Components and build

Trek has spent the budget wisely here, speccing the excellent Shimano GRX shifters, levers and hydraulic brakes. The flat-fronted levers are particularly good for grip when it's rough, the shifts are always positive and the two-piston calipers are powerful and easy to modulate on the 160mm discs. Basically, the whole stop and go thing is covered perfectly.

Well, almost perfectly. The 2x11 drivetrain gives a very useable spread of ratios, but for the most serious off-road climbing it's a little high. At the top end it's good for 35mph before you spin out, which is great for the road and fireroad descents, but leaves the lowest gear (30/34t) slightly high for the steepest, techiest climbs. That's especially true if the bike's loaded up.

That's the lowest combination of ratios that will fit, though, so your options there are either to keep the bike as light as possible, fit a 1x crank and lose a fair bit of top speed, or get stronger...

The finishing kit is all in-house Bontrager stuff, and while it's all perfectly good they're pretty easy targets for weight loss upgrades. The Bontrager Elite Gravel bar is 44cm wide on this frame size with a good flare to the drops for extra leverage, and the comfy GRX hoods tilt inwards just enough to encourage a slightly elbows-out stance that's good for control.

The wheels – Switch hubs, 21mm wide Paradigm rims (the SL version on one end, presumably the front) and 24 spokes on each – are similarly utilitarian, being strong, middling for weight and entirely decent for the job. Wearing Aeolus XXX rim strips they're tubeless ready, and so are the Bontrager GR1 Team Issue tires, which is nice – in fact, Trek lists 6oz of its TLR sealant as a 'tire part,' so presumably consumer bikes are supplied already set, just as our test bike was.

The tires are predictable and confidence inspiring on the unusually dry terrain of our test period, as well as on tarmac both damp or dry, but are clearly not designed for mud. There's room in the frame for up to 45mm rubber should you want to go wider.

Oh, and while the front axle looks like you'll need to carry a hex key to get it out, the lever on the rear thru-axle actually pulls out to fit in either one. 

Performance

The Checkpoint has a confident feel – its length and reasonable heft keep it planted, while the steering is stable without being sluggish. It's the same whether you're on gravel or tarmac, and predictable in a friendly but not boring way. The chunky headtube and sizeable welded junctions do a great job of keeping it tracking where it's pointed in the rough.

Despite the chunky, almost box-section seatstays and generally rigid-feeling frame, it's comfortable for long rides, thanks to the high volume tyres, well-cushioned bar tape and a supportive, hammocky P3 Verse Comp saddle you really sit 'in'.

Get up some speed on gravel though and there's no disguising the aluminum build. By 30mph on a fireroad, your hands and feet are taking some serious vibes, and the chatter from sustained speed does reduce comfort. 

Switching to carbon at the bar (and at the Bontrager seatpost) would both increase comfort and reduce weight, and though I found the saddle supportive and comfy both for long rides and hard pedaling efforts, it does have steel rails – it's another easy and relatively cheap target for weight loss and vibe reduction.

Alternatively, if you want more speed whatever the trails do, fit the best dropper post that will suit the 27.2mm seat tube and reap the rewards.

Personally, I would have quite liked the shorter cranks of the smaller sizes instead of the 175mm GRX RX600s fitted here, which would allow an even lower BB for descending confidence, but that's really just preference. The 7.4cm BB drop is pretty low in the scheme of things, cornering feel is predictable, and ground clearance is good.

This is an extremely usable yet still very enjoyable bike. It nails that '2/3rds road bike, 1/3rd XC bike' feel that makes gravel bikes so good for so many things – commuting while avoiding the worst traffic, touring, exploring dilapidated rural lanes, getting in hard climbing efforts away from ANY traffic, or just generally getting out there and enjoying the view. 

It's comfortable and reassuring from the off whatever the surface, and the money's been spent in the right places – this is a really solid base for years of riding fun.

Test conditions

• Temperature: Rarely less than 20 degrees C and up to 35
• Conditions: Dry, hard and dusty with almost zero rain
• Trails: Mountain singletrack, bridleways, forest gravel and crumbling rural lanes

Tech specs: Trek Checkpoint ALR 5

• Price: $2,500 / £2,400
• Discipline: Gravel
• Frame size tested: 58cm
• Seat tube angle: 72.5°
• Head angle: 72.3°
• Effective top tube: 59.7cm
• Bottom bracket drop: 7.4cm
• Wheelbase: 105.8cm
• Reach: 41.1cm
• Frame: 300 Series Alpha Aluminium
• Tires: Bontrager GR1 Team Issue 40mm, Tubeless Ready 
• Drivetrain: Shimano GRX
• Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 (tested), 61cm
• Claimed weight: 9.75 kg / 21.5 lb (56cm)

Steve is a highly experienced journalist and rider who's been involved with bikes of all kinds for more years than he would care to remember. Based in South Wales, he has mile upon mile of swooping singletrack, an array of plummet and winch descents and everything in between right on his doorstep.

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2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Review

Garret seacat, c.s.c.s..

Reviewing the all-new 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5

The 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 is a welcomed update to an already successful line of gravel bikes from Trek. As a long-time cycling coach and native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, we didn’t hold back on our Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 review. 

2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5

• Lighter frame than the previous version
• Nicely equipped components.
• Feels quick and nimble even with the long-wheelbase
• Updated geometry
• Lifetime Warranty
• We don’t mind but the removal of sliding dropouts
• Not as relaxed geometry as Trek Domane making it more of a race bike than a relax gravel bike

First Impressions

The Checkpoint needs almost no introduction to most riders familiar with the gravel scene but this year brought along an update to the already popular bike. While you could spend big money and go for the incredibly well-equipped and lightweight SLR model, we decided to stay more modest and review a more humble ALR 5 that will likely find its way into your garage.

Before we get too far, I want to mention I am VERY familiar with the Checkpoint, and this is the 4th different one I’ve owned. And well before that, I was part of a bike shop that helped contribute and give input on the “new gravel” bike from Trek, or what we would later learn was the first version of the Checkpoint. I sold my 2020 SL after just deciding it wasn’t the right fit for me, but here I am again with another Checkpoint added to the stable of bikes.

Straight out of the box, I was impressed with how light it was, even with all the stock components at the time. Also, the updated paint schemes on all the models are gorgeous in person! However, I quickly realized while assembling the bike my taste for carbon would likely result in some upgrades reasonably quickly to help lighten the bike even more and improve the feel. More on that later.

Riding the Checkpoint

It wouldn’t be a Checkpoint ALR 5 review without putting it on the gravel in Kansas, and luckily that’s exactly where we are located. While you miss out on the Iso-Speed of higher-end carbon Checkpoints, you won’t notice it much. Having ridden a variety of carbon Trek bikes with Iso-Speed, I was pleasantly surprised at the ride quality of the ALR. To help take the edge off, I added an RSL seatpost, and then the bike came to match the ride quality of much more expensive bikes.

On the same idea of changing things, take the stock tires ASAP. They aren’t that good! They roll fast, but you will flat in no time and ruin that new bike experience.

After a quick 20-mile break-in ride with stock parts, I changed the wheels to a pair of Bontrager RSL 37V and changed the seatpost and stem to Bontrager RSL carbon bits. I also put a wider 44cm width bar on. Is this necessary? Absolutely not, but the bike really comes alive!

One note on the geometry, it feels great but is noticeably different than the previous model. While the effective top tube says it is longer it felt shorter! The wheelbase also got shortened this year but has more front toe clearance and a similar chainstay length to previous years.

Since putting this bike together, I have almost shelved my carbon bikes completely. I even went to a couple of gravel races and left the carbon race bike at home because I enjoy the new Checkpoint ALR 5 that much! The best part is having riders come over and pick it up and their shock when I tell them how much I have invested in it compared to what they have spent.

Final Thoughts

At $2500 retail, you cannot go wrong with the Checkpoint ALR 5. It is just a all around fun bike to ride. The stock Shimano GRX R600 and R800 components and tubeless-ready wheels will have you ready for whatever you want. If you can swing it, grab a carbon seat post, I recommend the Bontrager RSL for the “flex” to help take a little more out of the gravel.

If you can find a shop with an ALR 5 in stock then give it a ride and don’t think twice about taking it home if it fits!

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2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Review

• by Riding With Ryan (Official)

The fastest growing discipline in cycling is gravel biking. The problem is, your road bike doesn’t make a good gravel bike. With the Checkpoint you get the best of both worlds. In this 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 review I’ll explain why the Trek Checkpoint is the do-it-all bike of the year.

The 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 is the perfect bike for road cyclists making the switch to gravel biking, as well as a great beginner bike for the new to cycling rider that wants to keep their options open.

A price tag of $2,499 scares away a large percentage of beginner cyclists, but it shouldn’t. With the Checkpoint ALR 5 you no longer need a road bike and a gravel bike.

The ‘A’ in ALR means this bike comes with an Aluminum frame. The ‘R’ indicates it is Trek’s Race aluminum, or lightest weight aluminum. On other Trek Bikes the SL and SLR mean carbon fiber and race carbon fiber, respectively.

Both the Aluminum and Carbon Fiber Checkpoint models have plenty of mounts for bags, racks, and storage. The Checkpoint ALR 5 also has clearance for 45mm tires, but it comes with Bontrager GR1 Team Issue 700x40mm tires.

The 2022 Checkpoint ALR 5 comes with a 2×11 Shimano GRX drivetrain. Crank arm length varies by frame size shown below, and all sizes have a 46/30T.

• Size: 49 – 165mm Crank Arm Length
• Size: 52 – 170mm Crank Arm Length
• Sizes: 54, 56 – 172.5mm Crank Arm Length
• Sizes: 58, 61 – 175mm Crank Arm Length

For cyclists looking to upgrade the crank, maximum chainring size is 1 x 44T from SRAM and 50T or 50/34 from Shimano.

The cassette is Shimano 105, 11-34. That means 11 teeth on the smallest sprocket and 34 teeth on the largest sprocket. Because this is an 11 speed cassette we know there are 9 additional sprockets in-between with the number of teeth on the sprocket increasing as they go up in size.

Shimano GRX is the gravel specific groupset. When comparing to road bike groupsets it is the equivalent of Shimano 105. In fact, there are some parts that still keep the 105 label on a gravel bike, like the cassette on this ALR 5.

Due to GRX being a gravel specific groupset, the engineers at Shimano were able to customize features to benefit gravel riders. The ergonomics of the shifters, and optimized gearing options are two key features from GRX.

Shimano GRX derailleurs feature a built in clutch. It keeps tension on your chain even when. the trail gets rough. A tight chain is less likely to slip or change gears unexpectedly.

Most importantly, the GRX groupset was built with durability in mind. The bumpy gravel trails and rocks getting kicked up can do serious damage to your bike. The beefy GRX groupset is able to handle the rocks and vibrations better than the Shimano 105 equivalent from the road side.

Key Features

The list of features included with this bike is long, but there are three key features I cannot go without mentioning. First is the number of integrated frame mounts. The Checkpoint ALR 5 is capable of being your bikepacking or touring mode of transportation.

The second key feature worth mentioning is the frame geometry changes Trek made for 2022. They call it a progressive geometry, but that simply means there is more slack in the fork. This provides stability and control on choppy trails, while also being quick and responsive.

Finally, the tire clearance on this road or gravel bike is insane. You can fit 45mm tires, which are perfect for gravel and winter riding. Switch to 35mm tires for the summer pavement rides. With two sets of tires you can eliminate the need for two separate bikes. The wheels are tubeless ready, and changing tires is an easy 15 minute task that gets completed at home.

Checkpoint ALR 5 Problems

If you do a lot of climbing the Checkpoint is not a great bike due to its weight. The 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 weighs 21.5 lbs. Bike weight isn’t a big issue if you ride the flats, but when climbing a couple extra pounds will adversely impact your ride. Cyclists living in the mountains may prefer one of the lighter carbon fiber models.

Another common complaint about this bike is the saddle (seat) being uncomfortable. The best upgrade you can make to improve comfort on the bike is riding with cycling shorts. They have a built in pad called a chamois that will keep you comfortable. Pearl iZUMi Escape Quest shorts are great because they are comfortable, durable and the price is usually $50 or less. ( Check Current Price on Amazon Here ).

For the cyclist looking for a do-it-all bike, you won’t find a better value than the Checkpoint ALR 5. The price is great considering the GRX groupset and the lightweight race aluminum frame. Durability will not be an issue for gravel riders, and the lifetime warranty on the frame from Trek cannot be beat.

If you enjoyed this 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 review, consider reading:

• Types of Road Bikes
• 10 Ways To Make Your Road Bike Lighter

2 thoughts on “2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Review”

I don’t get the weight complaint. Unless the bike owner has less than 10% body fat and is maybe a Cat 1/2/3 and is seriously focused on racing, the fact that the ALR 5 weighs 21.5 lbs is, to me, a non-issue. And even if the owner wanted to try a gravel race, they would do well to focus on tire and inflation pressure choice and not get worked up over bike weight. I raced a 22 lb alloy gravel bike in the 2022 Truckee Tahoe Gravel Race and finished mid-pack in my age class and that’s with a flat repair. So, weight, smeight! My $.02.

I got this bike and it is great. Re: carbon vs aluminum. I had an alu madone ( 2012 6 series- lightest at that time and made in USA) and an ALR. I stripped both frames and weighed them. 4 ounce difference. My alr road bike was just as comfortable as the 3x cost carbon one. And I have broken 3 carbon frames (have had 4), 1 out of 3 steel frames, and 0 of 3 aluminum frames.

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• Rider Notes

2020 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5

An aluminum frame gravel bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. Compare the full range

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Checkpoint ALR 5

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Sep 2021 · Matthew Pioro

Also, a tour of the revamped Trek Checkpoint lineup of bikes and Adventure bags for mixed-surface adventures

Dec 2020 · Ben Delaney

Gravel bikes abound, but this one checks all the boxes, and at a great price.

Dec 2020 · Benjamin Topf

Trek includes adjustable chainstays on their Checkpoint SL 7 gravel bike and offers new options for future gravel adventures like single-speed builds.

King of the climbs

Quick acceleration

Consistent spec

Many mounting points

Undamped rear flex

Limited adjustment range of the seatmast cap

Tires need more support at high speeds

Jun 2020 · Laura Weislo

On early impressions, Trek's flagship gravel bike, the Checkpoint SL7, looks perfect for seekers of versatility and adventure

Lightweight, agile and responsive ride

IsoSpeed shock adds comfort

Underbody protection for the eye-popping paint job

SRAM Force eTap AXS 1X drive not suited to mixed road/gravel

Top tube is too wide near the seat tube

Toe overlap in the smallest size

Mar 2020 · Abby Mickey

Trek’s Checkpoint was the most popular gravel bike of 2019, according to data Strava sent over last fall. Trek has sold a lot of them. This suggests that it’s a good bike, and indeed it is. But we found that it is good in a generic, pop-music, lowest-common-denominator, unoffensive-to-all kind of way. It takes few […]

An incredibly affordable bike that functions beyond its price, great for bikepacking, commuting, secret “groad” with your buddies, and more.

Heavy. It’s heavy. Also, it definitely needs a tire upgrade from the ones that come with it.

Mar 2020 · Dale Tiessen

Out of the saddle putting down maximum power into the Checkpoint, it feels like a nice carbon road bike.

Feb 2020 · Robin Wilmott

All-road versatility with refined road manners for a fine riding machine

Frame design and mounts, hydraulic Tiagra groupset

Chirpy mudguards

Last updated August 21 Not listed for 1,338 days

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Road Test: Trek Checkpoint ALR5 Driftless

This article first appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of Adventure Cyclist magazine.

The Driftless is a special edition of Trek’s Checkpoint gravel bike, and its moniker refers to the Driftless Area of the Midwest — specifically Wisconsin, Trek’s home state. Thanks to the internet, I now know that the Driftless Area was never covered by ice during the last ice age and therefore lacks glacial silt deposits, known as drift. Elsewhere in the Midwest, receding glaciers flattened the landscape; not so in the Driftless, where you’ll find steep hills and deep, narrow river valleys.

Trek’s Checkpoint is available in several iterations in carbon or aluminum and 1x or 2x drivetrains. The Driftless, however, comes in only one spec, but it’s a good one: aluminum frame, carbon fork, 1x drivetrain, dropper post, and bolt-on half framebag. The Driftless is also available in only one color, a dark red that Trek calls — wait for it — Satin Cobra Blood . If that didn’t come out of an ayahuasca fever dream, I don’t know what would. But look closely at the paint and you’ll see topographical lines that, according to Trek, evoke the Driftless Area. It’s a sharp-looking bike. And when you open the framebag, you’ll see the red topo pattern repeated on the interior fabric. That deserves a chef’s kiss right there.

The Driftless comes out of the gate ready for loaded adventures, featuring rack and fender mounts, four bottle mounts, triple mounts on the fork, and mounts for a top tube bag. With the framebag installed on the size 56cm I tested, I was able to fit a small bottle on the seat tube and a large bottle on the downtube. The framebag’s main compartment features three pockets, which is great for keeping things like your phone, wallet, keys, and a multitool handy without bouncing around. If you want to carry more water bottles, you can always remove the framebag to take advantage of the upper downtube bottle position: the inner triangle can carry up to three bottles.

For the drivetrain and brakes, Trek chose high-end Shimano GRX bits, which provided crisp shifting and easy, one-finger braking. With no front derailer, the left shifter is available to actuate the dropper post, a feature I absolutely loved. But with a 40T chainring and an 11–42T cassette, the Driftless had less gearing than I would prefer, especially on a bike named for a region with steep hills and with designs on loaded riding. The Easton dropper post provided only 50mm of travel, which for a bike like this is plenty. It’s just enough to lower your center of gravity but not so much that you can’t still get a few pedal strokes in.

As for the rest of the spec list, it’s a lot of Bontrager-branded stuff that worked quite well. I liked the shape and feel of the handlebar with its 13° flare, but I found the 420mm width a tad narrow. Likewise, the Bontrager wheels rolled just fine, but with only 24 spokes per wheel, they might not be ideal if you plan on really loading this bike up. The GR2 tires rolled quickly on pavement and provided a ton of grip on dirt, and they managed to survive the sharp rocks and scattered broken glass here in Salt Lake City, which is no small feat.

So aside from a cool paint job, a nifty framebag, and a dropper post, it’s just a gravel bike, right? Wrong. Somehow, the Wisconsin brand has created one of the most fun bikes I’ve ever thrown a leg over. The Driftless was screamingly quick on the road, even with its off-road tires — I quickly realized that being able to drop my butt 50mm on canyon descents makes me go much, much faster and with way more confidence — and with its short wheelbase and steep-ish head angle, it was an absolute riot on dirt, especially singletrack. A term we don’t often use in this publication is tossable , as in maneuverable, twitchy. With the slightest input, I could snake this bike around rocks and drift around corners like a hooligan. On one of the most fun days I’ve ever had on a bike, I rode the Driftless 20 miles on pavement to a trailhead, rode 20 miles of singletrack on green and blue mountain bike trails, and then rode 20 miles of pavement home. I couldn’t feel my legs the next day, but it was worth it.

So what’s this bike’s special sauce? I have no idea. The bike felt short and twitchy and pointy , as we say in the mountain bike world, but it was also surprisingly compliant. Something I’ve come to learn recently is that manufacturers have figured out how to make aluminum frames that don’t beat you up, and the Driftless is one such bike. But I also think the carbon fork and the low spoke count of the wheels played a role in the ride feel as well. Without isolating the various factors, it’s hard to point a finger at the source. But I tend to think that Trek hit upon a magical combination, and I’d be wary of replacing any one thing for fear of compromising this bike’s unique qualities.

Trek Checkpoint ALR5 Driftless

Best uses: Road, gravel, light touring, singletrack

Price: $2,800

Frame: Alpha Aluminum, rack and fender mounts, four bottle mounts, top tube mounts

Fork: Carbon, rack and fender mounts, triple mounts

Weight: 22.2 lbs. (with framebag and two bottle cages)

Available sizes: 49cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm

Size tested: 56cm

trekbikes.com

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The New Trek Checkpoint Line Is For Gravel Riders of All Kinds

Updated geometry and differentiated models for speed, adventure, and all purpose riding

The Takeaway: A great bike gets better, with geometry updates suited to the evolution of gravel.

• Two centimeters longer reach and front center on all sizes
• One centimeter longer chainstays
• New race-oriented SLR platform
• Additional cargo mounts

Price: $12,000 (SLR 9, as tested) Weight: 17.8 lb. (Size 54cm)

Trek’s gravel loving Checkpoint is all new front to rear, with new geometry (covered below) and features for the ever-evolving world of gravel riding. That evolution is why Trek differentiated the three complete bike platforms—SLR, SL, and ALR—for different kinds of gravel riders. I go into more depth below, but the short version is: SLR = race; SL = all-around, ALR = utility.

Threaded T47 bottom brackets now grace all Checkpoint frames, but Trek has done away with the sliding dropouts found on the previous generation Checkpoint. All eight builds get gravel gearing and clutch-style rear derailleurs (Shimano GRX or SRAM eTap AXS), as well as 40mm tubeless ready tires and tubeless ready rims. All models, and all sizes, can fit up to 45mm tires with plenty of mud clearance; which means riders in dry conditions can fit in even bigger tires. If you choose, you can fit the Checkpoint with 650b wheels—all models and all sizes come stock with 700c wheels—which bumps tire clearance up to 53mm (2.1 inches).

In the press release, Trek makes mention of “ Émonda -inspired aero tube shapes,” without providing any wind tunnel data. My suspicion is the tube shapes do save a few watts, though Trek isn’t leaning into gravel aero as much as 3T does with its Exploro RaceMax .

Trek Checkpoint — Geometry

Geometry is where the new Checkpoint sees the biggest change. While there are three Checkpoint frame platforms (outlined below), all three share the same, all new, geometry (see table above).

The overall theme to the geometry updates is “more progressive.” Trek took a page from the mountain bike playbook and stretched all sizes of the frame’s reach and front center by about two centimeters. Trek now fits shorter stems and shorter-reach bars to mitigate cockpit length changes. Chainstays on the frame grow by a centimeter (now 435mm on all sizes). Trail is also longer (about six millimeters) even though head angles remain about the same—new fork offset is 45mm, old was 49mm—and wheelbase grows as well. Frame stack bumps up a touch too.

Jordan Roessingh, Trek’s director of road product, says the new geometry aids stability, “It’s a longer bike, so whether you’re doing long Unbound type stuff where you’re just pointing the bike straight or you’re doing high speed stuff on gravel descents in the mountains, we believe this geometry lends itself to confidence. Getting that wheel out in front of you also unweights it makes you feel a lot more confident when you’re doing steep technical stuff—you don’t feel like you’re going to go over the bar. That front wheel is really easy to unweight and allows it to roll over a lot more stuff.”

Roessingh further explained that the new geometry also reduces toe overlap on smaller sizes and allows them to approve larger tires sizes for smaller riders, “On the previous [Checkpoint] we had to limit our small frame size tire size recommendations to only 40mm. Not because the frame didn’t have the capacity for 45, but when you put a 45 it created too much toe overlap.” The issue here was government regulations that outline a production bike’s maximum tire overlap. But with the new bike’s longer front end every size can, officially, run up to a 45mm tire.

One note on the geometry: The new Checkpoint is not suspension fork corrected. However, the Checkpoint has a 1.5-inch lower fork steerer diameter, so you can fit the new RockShox Rudy , a Suntour GVX, or Fox AX, but doing so will raise the front end and slacken its angles.

Trek Checkpoint — Where is the Front IsoSpeed?

One surprising omission from the new Checkpoint is IsoSpeed in the front, a feature found in Trek’s Domane all road bikes . According to Roessingh, IsoSpeed on the front of a bike with big tires, “Doesn’t provide a sufficient gain in compliance to make a real difference to the rider because a [larger than 32mm tire] is such a dominant aspect of the compliance,” so it was left off the new Checkpoint. The benefit is a less complicated front end, and some weight savings.

Rear IsoSpeed continues on all models. Roessingh explains that it has more deflection than front Isospeed so it offers additional compliance benefit even with larger tires.

Trek Checkpoint — Three Frame Platforms

The new Checkpoint comes in three platforms: SLR, SL, and ALR. The top of the line SLR (super light race) platform is new to the Checkpoint line. Previously, Checkpoint topped out with the SL model. All the models have T47 threaded bottom bracket, internal hose and housing routing, 45mm tire clearance, frame bag mounts, fender mounts, and come in six sizes: 49 to 61cm. SLR and SL carbon frames get the same in-frame storage system found on carbon Domane frames.

But though the three platforms share geometry and many features, they’re tuned to suit different riders.

The SLR is race oriented, so it gets the highest-grade carbon composite, a traditionally shaped (not flared) road bar, and forgoes cargo mounts on the fork. This model also has Trek’s no-cut seat mast with (non-adjustable) top tube IsoSpeed.

The SL gets an all-purpose gravel focus. It uses lower grade carbon than the SLR but adds adventure riding features like three-pack mounts on the fork legs, and a flared gravel bar. This model does have Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler in the seat tube but fits a traditional 27.2mm seatpost: That makes this model dropper-post compatible.

The aluminum framed ALR is the least expensive of the new Checkpoints, and Trek’s representatives expect this to be a popular model with riders looking for a commuter or utility bike. It has the same geometry as the other platforms, and the same rack, fender, framebag and mudguard mounts as the Checkpoint SL, and it gets a flared gravel bar and 27.2mm dropper-post compatibility. The two features it lacks relative to the SL are the in-frame storage and an IsoSpeed decoupler.

Trek Checkpoint — Models, Prices, Weights

There are eight complete bikes for the USA: one ALR, three SL, and four SLR models. Prices and claimed weights are below, with a quick look at the build kits. All complete bikes roll on Bontrager GR1 40mm tubeless ready tires, have tubeless ready rims, and ship with tubeless valves, rim strips, and sealant.

• Checkpoint ALR 5— $2,400, 21.5lb. Shimano GRX600 2x11 with 30/46 rings and 11-34 cassette
• Checkpoint SL 5—$3,200, 21.3lb. Shimano GRX600 2x11 with 30/46 rings and 11-34 cassette, Bontrager Paradigm SL wheels (21mm internal width)
• C heckpoint SL 6 eTap — $4,100, 20.0lb. SRAM Rival eTap AXS 1x12 with 40 ring and 10-44 cassette, Bontrager Paradigm Comp wheels (25mm internal width)
• Checkpoint SL 7 eTap—$6,3,00 19.6lb. SRAM Force Wide eTap AXS 2x12 with 30/43 rings and 10-36 cassette, Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V carbon wheels (25mm internal width)
• Checkpoint SLR 6 eTap—$7,600, 19.1lb. SRAM Rival eTap AXS 1x12 with power meter, 40 ring and 10-44 cassette, Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V carbon wheels (25mm internal width)
• Checkpoint SLR 7—$8,300, 19.4lb. Shimano GRX815 2x11 with 31/48 rings and 11-34 cassette, Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V carbon wheels (25mm internal width)
• Checkpoint SLR 7 eTap—$8,300, 18.6lb. SRAM Force eTap AXS 1x12 with power meter, 40 ring and 10-44 cassette, Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V carbon wheels (25mm internal width)
• Checkpoint SLR 9 eTap—$12,000, 17.9lb. SRAM Red eTap AXS 1x12 with power meter, 40 ring and 10-44 cassette, Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37V carbon wheels (25mm internal width)

Trek Checkpoint — Ride Impressions and Review

Trek sent me the top-of-the-line SLR 9 eTap AXS well ahead of the bike's launch, and I’ve done my usual “gravel” shenanigans on this bike—long gravel rides, mixed media rides, some road riding, and plenty of singletrack.

On anything dirt, and especially on singletrack, the new Checkpoint is not just better than the previous generation, it’s one of the best gravel bikes I’ve been on. I love the previous generations above-average comfort and smoothness and that’s still present, but the geometry updates make the new bike much more capable: And the faster and more technical the dirt, the more the geometry pays off. It’s accurate, but not darty, and composed but appropriately flickable.

Here’s the rub: Give us geometry that lets us go faster and…we’re going to go faster. The Checkpoint is so damn fast on downhills singletrack that I take issue with Trek’s decision to forgo front IsoSpeed or correct the geometry for a suspension fork. I mean, this is a pretty compliant bike overall, but when you go faster the hits get stronger. Many times I wacked stuff that made my hands and arms stung. Bigger tires help, but a 45mm maximum isn’t that big (Canyon’s Grizl fits 50s, for example).

Basically, there were times I felt like the geometry was writing checks the Checkpoint couldn’t cash without some help from suspension. But then, when you add weighty suspension and fatter tires, you have a much different bike; so I’m also not sure that’s the answer. I think we’re at a very interesting point with “progressive” gravel bikes where they are tickling the edges of mountain bike capability and, if they go much further, suspension must be a part of the conversation.

On the flip side of the new Checkpoint’s added capability, it feels less chipper on paved surfaces. The old Checkpoint was almost a road bike that could do gravel while the new one definitely takes cues from the world of mountain bikes. On balance, this works out okay for the most fun and challenging parts of gravel rides, though the Checkpoint bike feels a bit logy on the liaisons between the best bits. That’s a compromise I’m okay with, but if you want more quickness on pavement from your gravel bike you might be happier on something like a Cervelo Aspero 5 or the 3T Exploro Racemax .

Trek isn’t breaking any new ground with the Checkpoint’s geometry and handing traits. This mountain bike influenced longer, more stable, geometry (oh, hello, Chamois Hagar ) is an increasingly popular trend, and already found in bikes like Canyon’s Grizl (which the Checkpoint reminds me of) and some other bikes. I’m curious to see how this geometry goes down with the general riding public, and how far brands push the geometry. When used for actual gravel and off-pavement riding and racing, this geometry makes sense. But if riders are buying gravel bikes because they want more capability and comfort out of a drop bar bike, but are mostly sticking to pavement, I don’t think this geometry suits that kind of rider.

Handling covered, let’s look at the rest of the Checkpoint’s attributes. The added cargo options (in frame storage, direct mount bag in main triangle) are great, almost mandatory, features for a gravel bike. My 54cm frame did have two water bottle mounts on the downtube, but it required a bit of trial and error with a Wolf Tooth B-Rad base to get two bottles to fit comfortably. With the Bontrager frame bag mounted, I needed to reposition the seat tube cage location to fit a bottle. Larger sizes have more space in the main triangle, so this won’t be an issue, but riders on frames smaller than 54 might need to look into alternative ways to carry water if they run the frame bag.

I do have a gripe with the road-bend bar on the SLR models. Trek sees this model as appealing to racers who are coming from a road background. This is why it gets a traditional, and lighter, road bar. But it’s still a gravel bike, and flared drops are awesome for comfort and control. Besides, flared bars are so awesome that once you ride them, you’ll want to put them on your road bikes. Thankfully, Trek didn’t do anything weird with the bar and stem on the new Checkpoint, so riders can fit anything they desire.

That’s my only gripe though. I love this bike, and the rest of the parts kit is dialed. I’m going to throw out special kudos for spec'ing the SRAM-equipped SLR models with power meters from the factory. I think that’s perfectly in line with this bikes purpose and customer.

Overall, the new Checkpoint is a wonderful gravel bike. It’s faster, better handling, and more suited to the needs of the today’s gravel rider.

Trek Checkpoint SLR 9 eTap

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A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race. 

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2023 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Review

Are you looking for an affordable, yet powerful mountain bike? Enter the Trek Checkpoint ALR 5. 

This mid-range road and gravel bike is perfect for exploring paved roads, gravel paths and mild backcountry trails.

Trek is one of the biggest producers of bicycles in the world and they’ve managed to cater to cyclists of all levels by providing an impressive range of options. 

One such option is the Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 – a light weight, well equipped endurance road bike that can tackle any terrain with ease.

If you’re searching for a reliable and comfortable ride for your next adventure, then look no further than the Trek Checkpoint ALR 5. 

In this review, I’ll discuss what makes this bike so great, including its lightweight frame, impressive components, reasonable price point and agile maneuverability.

Trek’s Checkpoint ALR 5 has become a top pick among cyclists looking for adventure riding. 

The bike is designed to deliver a dynamic, efficient experience over a variety of terrain and surfaces, allowing riders to embark on longer adventures while pedaling further and faster. 

In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the features of the Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 and examine how it holds up for long rides in tough conditions.

Frame Construction & Design

The Checkpoint ALR 5 is constructed with 300 Series Alpha Aluminum from Trek’s exclusive technology, making it one of the lightest gravel bikes you can find on the market. 

Its frame design is based on Trek’s endurance road geometry for a more comfortable ride when using wider tires than what most road bikes are used to handling. 

The frame also features integrated mudguard and fender mounts, as well as larger headtube clearance spaces that allow you to use tires up to 45mm wide.

The Checkpoint ALR 5 comes stock with Shimano GRX components, including brakes and drivetrain components like shifters, derailleurs and crankset. 

It also includes Bontrager adjustable stem and handlebar that accommodate multiple hand positions while allowing you easily make custom adjustments that fit your body dimensions perfectly. 

Additionally, it offers internal cable routing for seamless shifting performance across all varieties of terrain conditions you may find yourself riding in on your adventures.

Wheels & Tires

This fantastic bike rolls on aluminum Bontrager Paradigm wheels paired with 40mm Bontrager GR1 Team Issue tubeless tires ready for any type of surface or terrain you might be taking it through. 

It also provides optimal traction with its plus-sized tire construction which helps increase grip levels when cornering or climbing technical trails – something many other gravel bikes don’t do as effectively as this one does. 

Plus, its tubeless design means you can take advantage of lower air pressures without fear of flats during long days spent exploring off roads trails or cruising the asphalt avenues back home after another amazing day out on your trusty steed!

Performance

Test rides support what we expected—the Checkpoint ALR 5 delivers an efficient ride with confidence inspiring handling over rough roads thanks to its sturdy carbon construction, plus size wheels and tires combo as well as responsive yet controlled Shimano GRX components package.

Riding this bike across paved surfaces offers smooth stability similar to a road bike but is forgiving enough over dirt paths or rocky terrains without feeling sluggish due to its wider footprint combined with just enough suspension provided by the bigger tires themselves – helping keep your momentum going with minimal effort no matter how rough things get out there!

Order online and have it shipped to your local dealer for final assembly!!

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2020 Trek Checkpoint ALR5 – 1000 Mile Review/Upgrades

As I used this forum heavily during my research into gravel biking, I decided to give a quick review of my Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 in the hopes that someone will find it useful. For background, I have been a mountain biker all my life and only recently discovered “gravel grinding” while living in Geneva, Switzerland for work.  Geneva essentially sits in a bowl surrounded by mountains on all sides.  During normal times a quick car/train ride can bring you to some of the best downhill/XC single track in the world.  However, COVID-19 limited access to those locations so I was stuck with fire roads, gravel farm trails, and the occasional mud trail which led to my discovery of gravel riding.  I now live in Belgium and have loved every minute of the biking culture here (lots of gravel/mud). I purchased the ALR5 after a bit of research as Trek retailers are typically found everywhere in Europe and I have never had an issue with their bikes/service in over 30 years of riding.  Although I looked at Niner, Specialized, Salsa, Mason, and Pivot (love the Vault), I went with the ALR5 as I found it on sale, it came with common/quality components, and was aluminum.  We can debate all day over carbon vs steel vs Ti vs aluminum but for what I needed and was willing to pay, the ALR5 was a good fit. ACTUAL REVIEW:

2020 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5; Size 61; Grey/Black/Red

Total miles: 1,223 I purchased the bike for USD 1000 as it was a store demo and considered "used". The bike had no scratches and was basically in new condition but without the "new" price tag.  Time of purchase was everything as it was early in the COVID era and bike stores will still attempting push last years models out before the new ones came it.  Crazy to think how a few weeks later stores were essentially out of stock due to restrictions and a huge rush of new buyers wanting to "ride-out" the quarantine.  The first 350 miles were flawless and I can’t say enough good things about the Shimano 105 group set.  It’s a workhorse, is easy to work on, and the 2x system worked well for the flat roads in and around Geneva.  Also, chain slap from the rear derailleur was minimal for the type of riding I was doing.  During this period, I stripped the bike down to a bare frame and discovered a few things.  The shop I purchased the bike from had used M5 bolts to hold the cables in place just underneath the bottom bracket.  The bolts they used were so long they drove into the bearings, essentially destroying the BB.  I highlight this as I can see how someone could make this mistake and wouldn’t want anyone else to do the same. No other issues worth noting.  As I am also a welder in a past life, I can attest to the quality of the aluminum frame.  My only complaint is that Trek is a bit sloppy in their welds.  Solid welds, but they need some finishing.  I will also add that the BB was within tolerances but by no means exact.  I think Pressfit becomes an issue when the manufacturer allows tolerances outside of what the Pressfit BB can handle.  At least that is what Hambini tells me! Around the 500 mile mark, a close friend received the Shimano GRX 600 1x for demo and was allowed to keep it.  When he was done he gave it to me (free) so I threw it on the bike.  I immediately knew the type of riding I was doing was not a good fit for 1x.  I put back on the 105 crank/cassette/front derailleur, changed to a med cage GRX rear derailleur w/ clutch, and kept the GRX 600 shifters.  This combined the benefits of both groupsets into a durable 2x system.  I also swapped out the seat to a Selle Italia Gravel SLR which works well and was given a set of Mason Hunt 4 Season wheels which I ran WTB ByWays (700 x 40) and GravelKing SK Plus (700 x 43).  I had previously read that ALR5 topped out with a max tire clearance of 700x40 but this has not been my experience.  I have run 700-45 with a 2x drivetrain with no issue but admit this is likely do to the bikes large frame size and that I have the dropouts slide all the way back. With regards to the dropouts, I would have preferred not to have them for no other reason than it’s a point of failure in my opinion and I don’t notice a huge difference in ride style/quality when they are shifted forward/backwards.  This is just my opinion, I understand their purpose, and will be the first to admit that I am not a good enough rider to appreciate their true value. Two months ago I was provided (same friend) the GRX800 DI2 (FD, RD, and Shifters) free of charge.  I had debated the value of swapping out my mechanical to DI2 and ultimately decided I needed to try it as it only cost me time and a few (expensive) parts (battery, cables, wireless unit).  After a few YouTube videos, I found installation pretty straight forward and took about 4 hours out of my day for the install.  Due to the frame/components, I ended up with the junction box/battery in the seat tube as I did not want to drill any of the aluminum out of the frame near the BB to fit the junction box.  Additionally, I drilled two small holes in my drop bars to in order to hide the cables (thanks “Rides of Japan”).   After setup, I made a near fatal mistake as I attempted to update the firmware via the Etube application on my iPhone which bricked the system. I have since learned that this is a common issue.  I made several attempts to fix this (battery disconnect; all components disconnect) but nothing worked.  The internet recommendation was to reinstall all the firmware via the laptop version of etube.  As I run a MacBook and since Etube only runs on windows, I downloaded virtual windows machine and was eventually able to reboot the whole system.  Although Di2 is not something I would likely pay for in the future I can say that it is an amazing product.  The shifts are flawless, precise, and can be accomplished under load without issue.  I’ve put about 700 miles on the groupset and have not experienced any issues and the battery still has a full charge despite my aggressive shifting.  Although I was initially reserved in my off-road riding in an effort to avoid damage to the components, that has since changed and the can say everything has held up nicely despite a few crashes.  With regards to cleaning, I have always used warm water, muc-off, and cleaner without issue and this setup is no different.  Bottom line is this:  The bike fit my style, had/has quality components off the shelf, has stood up to some pretty rough riding, and fit my budget.  Most importantly it puts a smile on my face which for me makes the bike worth its weight in gold.      

Trek still does not make an actual Gravel Bike.  

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Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 2023 Unisex

Road Bike, Gravel Bike, 22 Speeds, 28"

Popularity 4 in 

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The controversial plan to redevelop Checkpoint Charlie

Three decades after the Berlin Wall fell, the crossing is a mess of souvenir shops and fast-food restaurants – and time is running out to change things

It was the most famous border crossing in the Berlin Wall , the official gateway for allied diplomats, military personnel and foreigners to enter communist East Berlin by road.

And in 1961, Checkpoint Charlie seized the world’s attention when a diplomatic spat about allied forces’ freedom to travel in East Berlin quickly escalated and saw Soviet and American tanks squaring up to one another. The world watched aghast, fearful of a third world war, as a formidable flock of superpower tanks rolled towards the border, standing just 100 yards apart.

Three decades after the wall’s fall , however, the large crowds of visitors arriving at this nub of cold war history are mostly bewildered by what they find. Lined with tourist shops and fast-food joints, Checkpoint Charlie is a place where it is easier to buy a furry Soviet hat or a “You are leaving the American sector” hip flask than to get a flavour of its dramatic history.

“It’s mostly an embarrassing hotchpotch of inadequate establishments,” said Axel Klausmeier, director of the Berlin Wall Foundation.

But the future of this historically charged spot is now under hot dispute, with clashing visions of how to deal with it – and time is running out to make a decision. Berlin’s politicians are fine-tuning a redevelopment plan, unveiled in June, for a 3.2-acre site that includes a cold war museum, apartments and commercial areas, as well as a pentagonal open space.

Following the plan’s launch, it met with a volley of complaints, most vocally from the former Berlin culture secretary Tim Renner, a music producer and author who came up with his own ideas for the site, alongside others from Berlin’s artist, techno and graffiti scenes. German newspapers homed in on his provocative suggestion to pedestrianise Friedrichstrasse around Checkpoint Charlie and block it with two disused tanks, harking back to the 1961 crisis.

Given its pull for curious international visitors, Renner pushed for more open space to host artist installations and debate. “We should not confine this history to a museum, but make as much as possible visible on the site,” he said, adding that he rejected the official plan for new apartments, a big political priority given Berlin’s housing shortage.

“We do need cheap housing,” he said. “This is legitimate and understandable, but completely out of place here. Who wants to live directly where 12,500 tourists pass by every day?”

But decision-makers know the clock is against them and their bid to revamp the checkpoint. If the Berlin’s state parliament doesn’t manage to approve a new deal before a legal deadline in February 2020, plans for the redevelopment and cold war museum could potentially be shelved for good.

After that date, an official development freeze on the eastern part of the area ends, meaning the idea of creating an open public space won’t be legally safeguarded. The plot’s prime real estate could be completely built up, meaning even less space – and more confusion – for the hordes of international visitors.

More space for rising numbers of visitors is clearly needed. The junction, which the Die Welt newspaper mocked as “Berlin’s toughest no-go area”, is filled with hop-on, hop-off tourist buses, Segways, e-scooters competing with Berlin’s usual impatient inner city traffic and pedestrians from around the world. Every so often, cars hoot loudly to open a path through crowds waiting to be photographed next to the sandbags and replica checkpoint cabin that stand in the middle of the road.

“It’s narrow and cramped and just doesn’t work for so many people,” said Nick Imrie, a teacher from Brighton who was visiting the former border crossing with a group of 15- and 16-year-olds. “It all feels a bit bland. There are more interesting state museums, like Bernauer Strasse, which students really respond to” – a reference to the street where a stretch of 70 metres of the original Berlin Wall still stands, alongside the so-called death strip and a watch tower.

“The situation is pressing,” says Klausmeier. “There must be a permanent exhibition – beyond the temporary information boards and tourist traps – to explain the place and put its historical dimensions in context. Worldwide there are few more suitable places for a cold war museum than Checkpoint Charlie.”

At the site, tourists take photos of the reproduction of the “You are now leaving the American sector” sign, and until recently would queue to be photographed alongside pseudo soldiers in historical guard uniforms. History is often eclipsed by what a former Berlin culture senator dubbed as “polit-kitsch junk”.

Less immediately obvious to visitors are sites such as the basalt cylinder that marks the spot where Peter Fechter, an 18-year-old bricklayer, was shot by East German border guards as he tried to escape to the west in 1962. He bled to death in the death strip as guards from both sides looked on, in full view of western media – and became a worldwide symbol of the wall’s inhumanity.

Named by the allied powers in divided Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie is the most internationally famous of the East-West crossings in the Berlin Wall (there were others called Bravo and Alpha). It was used by foreigners and members of the allied forces allied diplomats, military personnel and foreign tourists, which also made it less significant for Berliners, perhaps explaining the sluggish political progress in its planning and design after the wall fell.

Hope M Harrison, associate history professor at George Washington University and author of the book After the Berlin Wall, recalled how the founder of a privately run museum – the more than 50-year-old Mauermuseum: Haus am Checkpoint Charlie – erected crosses in 2004 to remember those who died because of the wall.

“First there were 1,065 crosses and then there were 1,075,” she said. “They didn’t say where they got the numbers from. That was when the [Berlin] senate decided that there needed to be a more professional approach: a private person shouldn’t be in charge of the memory of the wall in such a public place.”

Shortly afterwards, the senate earmarked the Checkpoint Charlie site to host a cold war museum, but the plan floundered and more than a decade has passed, with only a small makeshift information pavilion, the Black Box, to explain the site’s cold war significance. In the meantime, souvenir shops have proliferated, as have private museums.

But more needs to be done, and soon, argues the former Berlin senate official Rainer Klemke, who is 71 and has spent half his working life pushing for the construction of a cold war museum. “There is clearly an information gap,” he said. “Checkpoint Charlie is the international site of the cold war, it’s not a place for navel-gazing – we finally need an international multi-perspective take on the cold war here.”

In the meantime, Berliners still give the chaotic, tourist-filled junction a wide berth, with media reports dismissing it as a “tourist circus” or a “Disneyland”. But those who passed through the crossing during its 28 years as an active checkpoint retain vivid memories of power play and hostility.

“The guards were intimidating and small-minded,” said one American West Berliner who, as a young artist, was sent home to change into more appropriate clothes because the East’s guards took offence at her ripped jeans.

Liane Gersch, an American teacher who moved to West Berlin in 1975, said that while she went through the Checkpoint Charlie numerous times she only made the trip once with her car, which was “torn apart” by the East German guards. They unwrapped all the tools that were in the back, taking away the outdated pages of West German newspapers.

“But I was one of the lucky ones,” she said. “At least I could cross.”

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• Berlin Wall

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