Bike Advice Needed!

[valpre]

Hey everyone,

I’m completely new to cycling and looking to buy my first proper bike since I was a kid. I’m based in Cape Town, in the Constantia area, and I’m hoping to find something that can handle a bit of everything.

I want to be able to do light gravel riding, including routes like the Mast, but I also want something that doesn’t feel too slow or heavy on the road. I’ve been looking at bikes like the Trek Checkpoint SL5 Gen 3 and the Domane SL5 Gen 4.

The Checkpoint seems great for gravel, but I’m a bit worried about the 1x drivetrain not being ideal for road riding. On the flip side, the Domane seems better suited for the road with its 2x setup, but I’m not sure if the 38mm tyre clearance is enough for rougher trails.

I’m not fixed on Trek – those are just examples of what I’ve come across so far. I’m really looking for something that can balance gravel and road riding fairly well. Any advice or suggestions would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks!