Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 fixed (Oslo winter smasher)

I just picked up a Trek Checkpoint ALR5 for dirt cheap on eBay. The plan is to use this for doing deliveries in Oslo over winter. The idea was to find a frame capable of wide tyres, disc brakes and fixed gear for optimal grip and stopping power. Apparently it gets quite cold, wet, snowy and icy there - actually snowed there today! It's an added benefit that this frame could also be used for gear-assisted adventures too (boring).

Obviously, I didn't bother researching actual compatible wheels or hubs or anything like that... that was going to all find a way to work itself out after the fact. However, upon commencing research it appears a 142x12 thru axle hub with disc brake and fixed gear capabilities is a hard thing to come by. Who would've thunk it!?

Paul seem to manufacture the exact thing I require but the price tag is pretty hefty (£145). This bike is going to probably get pretty abused and roughed up in crappy weather and I only went along with this frame because the eBay auction went by surprisingly uneventfully. I've also never had a bike which did not have a threaded BB shell so this is new territory for me. I will need to look into cranks too, I guess! Let's not even get started on what rims or brakes to go for... Unintentionally, this may turn out to be the nicest bike I've ever put together due to limitations thanks to my strange specifications.

From the Paul website it seems that other people have built up rear disc brake fixed bikes as they surely aren't making this product just for a laugh. Does anyone have any examples? Is there another hub manufacturer out there that would also work? I also have decide between 700c and 650b. Apparently this frame can fit 49x700 but will I be wanting more? I think I need to look into studded tyre options and sizes those come in. Any recommendations welcome!

Photo 1: The frame I just won
Photo 2: Paul fixed / disc hub
Photo 3: A Trek Checkpoint set-up for single-speed (inspo)

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I know nothing of discs, but maybe someone makes a double-bolt-on-fixed hub... threaded for bolt on fixed sprokets both sides but you’d actually be putting a rotor on one side.

Surly make one? Not sure if much cheaper though.

I'm saving up for a set of Pauls myself.

phil wood kiss off hub

Really nice frame.

Subbed

Nice. Needs risers

PAUL remains a value on ...

If you went front disc only you could use any suitable thru axle rear wheel, turn it around and put a Velosolo fixed cog instead of the rotor. Chainline would be around 53mm I think, so you may need to go for a triple MTB chainset on the front (or whatever gives you such chainline).

Cool project btw!

For SSP you could use this: https://www.cnc-bike.de/product_info.php?products_id=17679
with axle spacers and a 142x12 axle. would necessitate a boostinator adapter for the disc though... so a bodge in the end.

Check out velosolo - they do 135/142 oln hubs for cheap. Ps nice ride around Australia.http://velosolo.co.uk/shophub.html

They don't do 142 thru axles though.

(https://forums.mtbr.com/singlespeed/12-x-142-single-speed-hub-832448.html)

there i found some more sugesstions:

• DT 240 SSP hub, then ream the axle and fit a 142 conversion kit
  
• profile BMX hubs are apparently available in 142mm
  
• Hadley SSP hub
  
• you can also allegedly convert the stans notubes rear ssp hub to 142 --> wait, edit: you can, theres a pic in the thread :)
  
  

Just get a 142 hub and use a 6 bolt fixed sprocket and flip the wheel??

Unless you want to run a rear brake too then dont do that.

flipped rear means super wide chainline,ditch the rear brake and go for a front 12mm hub with custom spacers/washers

Damn, I really did NOT update this thread with how this project got on.

Well, 2.5 years later I've almost done 40,000km on this frameset and just won the biggest alleycat ever held in London on it. Here's a little breakdown of the set-up for that.

The race-winning set-up. This is what I used to nail 1st place in @thegreatalleycatoflondon last weekend.

56/18 gearing. Rear cog attached to the disc rotor side of a road wheelset. A cog with drillings for a 6-bolt attachment - however the hubs are Centrelock. So had to use an adapter and that seemingly had a tendency to loosen and was impossible to centre. I just used a load of threadlock and elbow grease and it appears to have survived over 100km of hard riding. Brand new Izumi chain installed 2 days before the race. Fully degreased and relubed for best efficiency.

Frame bag by @mackworkshop housed 2 spare tubes, required tools, a bottle of Coke (deployed at end of 2nd manifest) and some sweets. A bottle with electrolytes and sugar. Another with Red Bull. I'm always bad at hydrating on the bike but knew I couldn't mess around with this effort. The bag and cages were also used on my ride around Australia so they had a heap of residual adventure energy to them which helped fuel the smashfest in a metaphysical dimension.

Ergo grips paid off nicely for stopping hands getting sore. They also make it easier to hold a phone whilst riding. Which is crucial when navigating on the fly and for selecting the perfect Spotify soundtrack.

I also started the race with a rear puncture. I was running tubeless and it would occasionally spurt out some juice towards @the_sprinting_sanchez and @robroskoo who were chasing me. Like some sort of flare or octopus ink defense method. However, the tyre maintained 60-70PSI the whole race which is what I wanted anyway so it was all good.

Loved the set-up. Love this frameset. Running 25mm tyres on a gravel bike did make pedalstrike a hazard - and did cause me to have one minor crash. Derp!

Fun fact: The handlebars are 66.6cm wide and my route ended up being 66.6 miles.

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I didn't know alleycats were still a thing...
I'm curious to see some pictures of your tour in Australia on this bike

What a great thread update (well worth the wait) : )

Looks sweet. How did you sort the chainline with the crankset?