Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0

Liv's Avail Advanced Pro 0 strikes an impressive balance between racing performance and long-distance comfort. With endurance geometry and clearance for up to 38mm tyres, it's perfect for the longest of days in the saddle. I've had about five weeks to test Liv's claims that 'this road warrior is ready to take you as far as you can go, which is always farther than you think' and, objectively, there's very little to dislike about it. The price might put some off, and I have to say it's a bike lower down the Avail Advanced range I'd be looking at – compromises don't look as drastic as you might expect – but if you want and can afford the level of equipment on the Pro 0, it's an excellent choice.

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Liv launched the fifth generation of its Avail Advanced bikes at the end of August. It's a bike intended to appeal to those who want a comfortable, less racy/aggressive riding position, and don't necessarily prioritise the need for speed. With this latest iteration Liv claims you don't have to wholly sacrifice the latter for the sake of the former, and after having put it through a range of rides over the last month or so, I'd certainly agree with that.

Suvi tested the previous model and really liked it, but Liv has made changes to the geometry for this latest version. On the medium size I've been testing, both the seat tube and top tube are shorter, while the head tube angle has been reduced from 72 to 71 degrees, leading to a 6.5mm increase in trail and a 4mm decrease in reach.

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I haven't ridden previous models, so I can't say how positive or not these changes are, but the 165mm head tube on the medium I tested made for a position that felt distinctly 'endurance' – much more upright than on a pure racing bike.

I never felt like I could get into an optimal tucked, descending or sprinting position, but this didn't come as a surprise – it's not a racing machine. But it felt stable enough in all situations, and power transfer was impressive by comparison to some other 'endurance' bikes I've ridden.

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0: Ride

I've tested the Liv on rides ranging from 40 to 230km, primarily on road, and its biggest attribute, in my opinion, is the comfort it offers on rougher roads.

While it might have been tempting to come up with some newfangled design to rival Specialized's Future Shock/AfterShock or Trek's IsoSpeed, Liv has opted to put its efforts into refining existing technology and components.

The Advanced-grade carbon composite frame and Advanced SL-grade carbon fork are dressed up with Liv's innovative Contact D-Fuse handlebar and D-Fuse seatpost, designed to 'absorb more road vibrations than round-shaped tubing without sacrificing efficiency on corners and climbs'. D-Fuse technology was first introduced in 2014 as a seatpost for pro-level cyclo-cross bikes, designed to absorb low-amplitude shocks and high-amplitude vibrations to deliver a smoother ride on variable terrain. Following its success in cyclo-cross, the technology was expanded to the rear of endurance road and gravel bikes – and later to the front half of bikes. Liv claims that the propriety seatpost used on the Avail Advanced offers up to 7mm of flex. Having tried it, I'm convinced Liv isn't far wrong – it flexes!

As well as the geometry, the other significant change to the frameset is that it can accommodate up to 38mm tyres – a 3mm increase from the previous Avail – though it comes with 32mm rubber. And despite the seatpost's convincing impact on comfort, I'd be inclined to suggest that the 32mm tubeless tyres should take significant credit here. I tend to keep widths in excess of 30mm for my touring and gravel forays, but a few weeks on the Avail Advanced Pro 0 has convinced me that 32mm is well suited to our increasingly rough roads on a road bike too.

At the end of a 230km audax, taking in plenty of rough roads and a couple of sections of bridleway, my usual lower back and shoulder niggles were unnoticeable. When coming off both 6km stretches of bridleway, I didn't feel as beaten up as I would have if I'd ridden my carbon bike with 25mm tyres.

Even with Liv's damping technology and running relatively low tyre pressures, the bike didn't feel sluggish or lacking in efficiency. The frame's claimed increased stiffness is perhaps compensating for the increased flex in the seatpost, alongside an oversized bottom bracket area (with a press-fit bottom bracket). Whatever the scientific explanation, I certainly didn't feel like the bike was lacking in terms of efficiency while I was out with faster paced groups, or pressing on up climbs.

I rode the bike on some decent gravel stretches beside the river Wye, as well as in the Wyre Forest – a good test of Liv's claim that the Avail Advanced can handle 'short gravel sections'. By comparison to the bikes I raced over the Flemish cobbles (granted, more than 10 years ago), the Avail Advanced Pro 0 is superior with regards to comfort. You can put the power down and still feel relatively comfortable atop the D-Fuse bar.

In short, Liv has produced a frameset and build that offers a level of comfort that will be very much appreciated when riding on rough roads, as well as embarking on endurance outings.

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0: Frame & fork

To say the bike is pleasing to the eye is an understatement. Yes, that's personal opinion, but I'm not a fan of oversized tubing, bright colours and minimal exposure of a seatpost, so the Liv ticks a lot of my preferences where aesthetics are concerned.

The internally routed cables create clean lines and a sleek look, and the raw carbon appearance finishes it all off perfectly. And it looks even more impressive close up than it does from a distance.

The Advanced Pro 0 comes in Gloss Carbon, Matte Carbon and Chrome, while models lower down the range are available in a variety of other colours.

It's worth noting that sizes are limited, rather: if you need a large frame, you'll only be able to invest in the Advanced Pro 1 or Advanced 2. Similarly, if you want an XXS, your only option is the Advanced 2. Liv says this is simply down to 'demand based on sales history'.

I've got reservations about the use of a press-fit bottom bracket, and think it's rather interesting that Liv has opted to use something that the rest of the industry appears to be moving away from (except for the pure racing machines of the pros).

While the front end is tailored for an upright position, you can adjust the saddle height and set-back to achieve the riding position you're most comfortable with, and there's plenty of scope here since the seatpost clamp can be turned to achieve extreme dimensions of off-set (-5mm to +15mm).

All of the bikes in the Avail Advanced range come fitted with two bottle cages.

In addition to this you get an out-front mount (Garmin/GoPro) and a bridge for mounting a rear mudguard. The inclusion of mudguard eyelets on the frame is a big plus for the bike.

Long distance riding inevitably requires a certain amount of extra kit and supplies. For my first audax on the Avail Advanced, I used a top tube bag to carry this cargo, and by the end of the ride small patches of the gloss finish had worn away. I've not experienced this using the same bag on other bikes (doing one-day rides), which might suggest that the gloss coating on the Avail is somewhat delicate. Given the bike's endurance prowess, I'd say the omission of top tube bosses for a bolt-on bag is a bit of an oversight.

Giant's PowerPro (dual-sided) power meter is a great feature if you are serious about training and incorporating power into your programme, or you want to start doing so. The associated app wasn't the best, though, and I chose to pair the power meter with my Garmin Edge 830, without issue.

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0: Groupset

This has been my first experience of Shimano's Ultegra Di2 and I've been thoroughly impressed with how smooth and effortless the gear changes are.

It's good to know it can stand up to 230km of horrendously wet roads, interspersed with torrential rain – I live in the UK and hate indoor trainers. I'm honestly won over by the system. Charging is simple and fast, and the system has worked brilliantly throughout testing.

I spent much of the time on the hoods which, in addition to offering a slightly more stretched-out position, are remarkably comfortable. In comparison to the 11-speed Shimano Ultegra shifters I am used to, the 12-speed levers seem to have a longer level top-edge profile, offering a great platform for the hands to rest on. Being narrower, they are also more 'grip-friendly' – my hands wrapped around them easily – which in turn gave a stronger sense of control when throwing the bike about.

At just 7.6kg, the bike is a luxury to climb on. The 11-34T cassette combined with a 50/34T chainset meant I never ran out of gears, even on the steepest of Cotswold climbs.

On the flat I did miss the 16-tooth sprocket; if I had the choice I'd opt for an 11-30T cassette. Given the bike's 'endurance' label, it's not surprising to see a 50/34T chainset, but if you are riding primarily on the flat or like to hold your power on descents, you might miss a bigger gear.

Braking has been reliable and sharp, as you would expect from a hydraulic setup at this level. Sadly, it's taken a long time for screeching (at an ear-piercing level) to subside, though repeated outings in rough weather have likely compounded the issue for me. Persistence with 'heat-cycles' has gradually dumbed down the squealing to a tolerable level.

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0: Finishing kit

The medium size comes with a 400mm bar, which I found spot on – my wrists haven't been strained, and engaging my upper body and arms (when out of the saddle) has felt comfortable and efficient. But it's worth noting that the small size also has a 400mm bar, and I'm not sure this will suit all riders who fit that frame size – something Suvi echoed in her test of the previous model. The bar has an 8-degree flare which, along with the 32mm tyres, might be considered a sprinkling of 'gravel', though I can't say I really noticed the flare. It might be gently angling the levers, but it's very subtle.

The Liv All Condition bar tape is thickly wrapped, and riders with smaller hands (on the S and XS frames) might struggle to get their hands around it if it's similarly wrapped. For me, the comfort it offered on the tops (while on gravel) was appreciated, and on the drops it provided a decent level of grip.

One niggle I had with the handlebar is that it doesn't lend itself to all front light mounts. A Lezyne was the best fit I could find, but using it at night while I had a GPS unit on the mount wasn't ideal – the computer interfered with the light's beam so much that I resorted to removing the GPS in order to fully light up the road in front of me. It's worth noting that the GoPro adaptor (supplied with the bike) for the underside of the GPS mount can accommodate certain lights, so the situation I experienced is surmountable with the right light.

Likewise, I ride with a rear light and camera at all times, and frustratingly only one of my lights comfortably wrapped around the D-shaped post. All the others have mounting systems for round or aero tubes. And while the camera mount worked, it was far from optimal – the fit wasn't snug.

The saddle is Liv's own Alacra SL, an ergonomic design with cutout intended to relieve soft tissue pressure and numbness for the female anatomy. I gave it a few weeks but didn't get on with it, but this is a personal matter and easy to fix. You might even be able to negotiate an alternative upon purchase.

Given that my second week of testing coincided with the back end of storm Ciaran, I was happy that the bike could accommodate full mudguards. Not all guards are guaranteed to be compatible, though naturally Liv's own are. They're an aftermarket purchase, but their design suits the dark colour scheme of the bike and, while any guard distracts from the beauty of a bike, they certainly add to its versatility (assuming you want to get out in wet weather). I've had them out in torrential rain and ridden them through flooded roads. Clearance is good and there's been no rattling or signs of failure, despite not having the most sturdy of appearances. They are a better solution than any kind of clip-on guard, even if they don't quite offer the comprehensive coverage of a conventional fixed fender.

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0: Wheels & Tyres

I've been impressed by the Giant Gavia Fondo 0 tyres in the dire testing conditions I've had – no sketchy moments to report. The tyres handled the wet roads impressively, not to mention leaf-strewn surfaces. They felt grippy over gravel too. Unfortunately, I've had no real opportunity to push the tyres on dry roads, so can't say if they excel here or not. Stu reviewed them in 2020, though it's possible they've been refined since then.

Given the high-end spec of the bike, taking it out in wet conditions might not be everyone's preference, so having a tyre that's better in the dry than the wet would be logical, but Stu seems to suggest they are actually better in wet conditions than dry.

If you do want to change the tyres, you should definitely check the bike manual for compatibility with Giant's (hookless) SLR 1 Carbon Disc Wheel system. In their favour, the tread is still looking like new – not bad given the number of hedge cuttings they've rolled over and potholed roads they've endured.

For me, the wheel rims were a touch too deep for some of the gustier, autumnal conditions we've recently had. But if you tend to avoid rough weather then this will be less of a concern for you.

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0: Value

Price-wise, the Avail Advanced Pro 0 is in line with its competitors. Drawing comparisons with Trek's £6,025 Domane SL 7 Gen 4 is interesting: it includes parallels with the Avail – Shimano Ultegra Di2, carbon wheels, 32mm tubeless tyres – but the 54cm Domane I'd need comes with 172.5mm cranks and a 42cm bar, so it's not 'ready to ride' for me, and given the price tag I wouldn't be keen to start making changes.

Specialized's Roubaix SL8 Expert also costs £6,000 but comes with SRAM Rival eTAP AXS (and significantly different gear ratios), and has a threaded bottom bracket. The 54cm Roubaix matches Trek's Domane where bar width and crank length are concerned, though.

Liv remains the only bike manufacturer to cater solely for the female market, and cases like this suggest it's not only needed, it's getting it right.

As I said at the start of the review, £6,000 is a significant outlay, but Liv does offer more affordable options of the Avail Advanced. At £4,599 the Advanced Pro 1 is hardly cheap, but it's a great choice if watching watts and Ultegra gains (over 105) are not a priority for you. Further forgo carbon wheels, Shimano rotors (for Giant) and settle for a slightly different fork and you can have the Avail Advanced for 'just' £3,199.

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0: Conclusion

Overall, I've been thoroughly impressed with the Avail Advanced Pro 0. It's a super result of Liv's commitment to creating a female-specific endurance bike that's versatile and comfortable, without compromising on performance. Despite minor personal preferences, the overall package of this bike is impressive and, if you've got the money to spare, it's definitely one of the best options on the market.

Verdict

Impressive fusion of comfort and performance, with geometry suited to cyclists who want to ride all day