Trek Checkmate SLR
Gravel racers coming from a road-race fit who found Checkpoint too tall or too touring-oriented.
The gravel-race Trek: lower, longer, and more aero than Checkpoint. It wants speed on dirt, not a full frame-bag tour.
Gravel racers coming from a road-race fit who found Checkpoint too tall or too touring-oriented.
The gravel-race Trek: lower, longer, and more aero than Checkpoint. It wants speed on dirt, not a full frame-bag tour.
Riders who want a drop-bar bike for mixed-surface events, not a touring mule.
Gravel-race geometry with a distinctive front end. Quick to turn and happier on fast dirt than on loaded bikepacking tracks.
Racers who like Cannondale's handling and want the serviceable frame. Synapse is the taller sibling; SuperX is the CX/gravel race cousin.
The fourth-generation EVO keeps the third generation's geometry but goes lighter, slipperier, and back to a threaded BSA bottom bracket. Same fit as the 2020–2022 bike, easier to live with.
| Measurement |  De RosaMerak 2026 |  |  CanyonGrail CF 2027 |  CannondaleSuperSix EVO 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackmm | 560 | 580+20 | 558−2 | 561+1 |
| Reachmm | 396 | 403+7 | 394−2 | 384−12 |
| Head tube angle° | 73.0 | 72.2−0.8 | 71.5−1.5 | 73.0 |
| Seat tube angle° | 73.0 | 73.2+0.2 | 73.5+0.5 | 73.7+0.7 |
| Chainstaymm | 406 | 425+19 | 435+29 | 408+2 |
| Wheelbasemm | 1000 | 1038+38 | 1039+39 | 985−15 |
| BB dropmm | 68 | 74+6 | 75+7 | 72+4 |
| BB heightmm | — | — | — | — |
| Standovermm | — | — | — | — |
| Part | Merak 52 | Checkmate SLR ML | Grail CF S | SuperSix EVO 54 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stem | 90 mm | 100 mm | 90 mm | 100 mm |
| Bar | 400 mm | 420 mm | 400 mm | 420 mm |
| Crank | 170 mm | 172.5 mm | 170 mm | 172.5 mm |