https://www.evanscycles.com/trek-checkpoint-alr-4-2019-adventure-road-bike-EV333849
This Trek Checkpoint is almost in budget, it’s last years model but only in 56cm frame size and as I’m 5’ 10 I’m not sure if it’s the right size.
Not easy to say using just height.
Your 5’10" height certainly checks out okay for the 56cm frame on the Trek sizing & fit guide but it ultimately depends upon your leg inseam and upper body length, in practise you may prefer a size 54.
For example i’m 5’8" but ride a size 52cm ~ although the Trek size guide suggests 54cm.
You really should visit the shop, sit on bikes to get the feel of sizes, and talk to the staff there, hopefully they will have someone with bike-fit knowledge.
The Trek ALR 4 looks very good tho’, has a better group-set (IMO), hydraulic discs, and is a kilo lighter than the Genesis Fugio.
Expensive new bikes don’t usually come with pedals due to personal preference of which make a rider prefers. This relates to the clipless pedal systems that interlock into the underside of the shoe, lots of different makes and systems, however if you wan’t ordinary pedals this is no problem, the dealer may even throw a pair in for free if you ask : )
You can always progress to clipless pedals at a much later date if/when funds and enthusiasm allow.
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Pinarello Gravel Bike. Very versatile and I’m sure it’s a great ride but at 4.5k not the cheapest.
It’s the sort of bike I’d buy if an unexpected cash donation came my way 
Yes, maybe 54 is better as I measured my inside leg and it’s 77cm so looking at the height of the center bar it wouldn’t exactly comfortable.
Yes will visit some bike shops in Bath tomorrow, the Evans shop is in Bristol so will wait till another day.
Top tube!
If you do go for a 54cm size you’ll most probably need a longer stem on the handlebars to cope with your longer upper body length. The 54cm Trek ALR 4 comes with a 90mm stem, swopping this out for a 100mm or 110mm or 120mm should hopefully be a free service of the dealer who will happily sort this for you.
Both 54 and 56 sizes have the same 172.5mm crank length, and same handlebar 42cm width.
The Trek dealer in Bath is: Cadence Bike Shop, 9 Chelsea Road
Ask them if they do a free bike-fit.
Also tell them you’re thinking of buying a discounted bike from Evans. They’ll probably do a discount too, they want to sell bikes 
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I’ve just bought this new weapon to help combat the filth my bike collects after each winter ride:
Simply clips onto the ‘hozelock’ connector on the hose, and a quick once over scrub and sploosh the bike is fairly clean again. The brush is particularly good at getting the tyres and wheel rims very clean.
A couple of minutes to wash, followed by a minute of wipe over drying with microfibre cloth, and bike is back indoors respectably clean within 3 minutes of returning from a ride 
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I have one of those but have never used it on the bike. It came in a set for car washing - this one is for cleaning car wheels. Might try it on the bike!
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Loving all the Trek pictures. Great bikes.
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Had my wheels off the bike yesterday and noticed the absence of any slushing of liquid tyre sealant when shaken. The wheels are doing really well on the rides, i couldn’t be more pleased with them.
Only three months old but it looks like the first top-up time is here already (?)
Just ordered an 8oz bottle of this:
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I didn’t go out on the bike today, far too windy.
So stayed in to tinker about with the bike instead…
Let air out of tyres, carefully not to upset the seal between rim and tyre, removed the valves using removal tool, and place removed valve in saucer of warm water. Inject a full fat 2oz of tubeless sealant though the empty valves stems into each tyre.
Had a job persuading any sealant to go in one tyre, until i poked the dipstick trough the valve stem which pushed some congealed sealant from blocking the passage… but with next try the sealant went in very easy.
Replace valve using tool to tighten to snug fit, and carefully attack track pump airline and inflate back up to 65 psi. Job done.
Both my tyres were bone dry, lucky i didn’t puncture, should be prepared now, shame about the extra 50 grams of revolving weight on each wheel, i’ll be thinking about that tomorrow while climbing the local hill 
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The liquid latex stays at the bottom of the wheel as it rotates, so no added rotating weight, unlike an inner tube.
I’d of thought it would only gravitate to the bottom when stationary, and motion would slosh it about around the inside of the tyre like a centrifuge machine (?) 
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I’m sure some of it does but most of it stays at the bottom. Try putting the bike in a stand and spinning a wheel. Listen for the sloshing at the bottom of the wheel.
However, over time it congeals and sticks to the inside of the tyre. Now you have rotational weight. 
I can’t complain really, my front wheel still only weighs in at 1285 grams to include the disc rotor and a Conti GP5000 32 size wide tyre, and i certainly won’t mind getting home after every ride without the hindrance of a flat 
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No punctures is such a great thing!!
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Until the day you get a puncture that’s too large to seal and then it’s an absolute b**tch to get the tyre off and valve out to put a tube in. Tyre worms are probably the solution but without practice to get right are not easy either.
I remain unconvinced by road tubeless…
Maybe needs a separate thread but just thought I’d post a ‘What cycling trips do you have planned for 2020’ post. I’ll kick off with:
Majorca for a week in March
France for 10 days in June ?? Barcelonette
Raid Corsica in September
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I ride mountain bikes only these days and since I am usually far from help, I carry many methods of puncture repair.
First, my tyres are tubeless and dosed with liquid latex. This instantly fixes all but the big split type punctures. No need to remove tyre.
Second I have Weld-kit (worms) and these are good for small splits. Generally, these last for the life of the tyre. I did once use 3 worms on a 2cm split to good effect. Got myself back to the van and put a new tyre on that weekend. Again, no need to remove tyre until replacing it.
Third, I have a tyre boot. It’s a credit card size piece of plastic. You need to remove the tyre to place it over (or is that under?) a larger split. This is an emergency get you back to the van or home, and definitely requires a new tyre.
Fourth, I also carry an inner tube and normal valve for those instances when all else fails. Used as a last resort because tyre is obviously scrap, but inner tube sticks to outer tyre and will be scrap too. However, it gets you home.
I have never had to use my inner tube yet despite some nasty tyre damage.
I also carry other spare parts for the bike, and tools. Plus food, water, spare clothes etc. That’s why we carry back packs. Bit of a pain but…
Tuscany for a week in October. Siena to Rome.
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