The Liv Avail Advanced Pro 2 from Giant’s specialist women’s division makes an exhilarating ride as one of the top of their road cycling portfolio. Retailing at £2499, this carbon framed machine is built not only to fly, but to give a positively confident ride too.
It’s clear that the Avail Advanced Pro 2 has been engineered for speed, with a lightweight carbon construction, quality 105 componentry and a sleek design. It eats up miles with spectacular ease, while the 11-32 cassette means you won’t go short on gearing, keeping you spinning up even the steepest hills. Climbing is made pleasurable with the nimble and lightweight feel of the Avail, encouraging you to ascend faster and push harder than on heavier, more sluggish frames.
The 2017 Avail Advanced Pro 2 from Liv, photo by Liv
Disc brake confidence all year round
Hydraulic disc brakes give precision braking in a range of conditions, especially confidence inspiring on wet roads and technical descents. Looking closely, subtle mudguard mounts and a clever protective cable guide under the bottom bracket also make this Liv suitable for year-round riding. The one bike to take you through all seasons?
Hydro discs give ultimate braking confidence, photo by Phil Hall
The feel of quality
Slender seat stays give compliance and perfectly measured finishing kit is not only optimal for female specific positioning on the bike, but also gives a luxurious feel that this price tag warrants. This includes narrower bars than unisex bikes, well wrapped with grippy bar tape and a streamline Liv Contact SL saddle which remained comfortable in this instance even after 100km.
Tubeless tyres as standard
Growing more popular as standard on new bikes, the Liv Avail comes with tubeless tyres, Giant Gavia SL 700x25mm to be precise. These gave good traction even in the wet and on some back lane loose terrain. The technology may be new and a little daunting to some prospective buyers, although with the sealant system there should be fewer punctures than in standard inner tube systems. Certainly none here in over 100 miles of winter back lane and city testing!
Room for improvement
Flat mounted disc brake calipers give the bike a streamlined look, making the more popular disc brakes look at home on a road bike. Unfortunately this approach is let down somewhat by the huge shifters, especially as a women’s specific model where reach from the drops or hoods to the brake levers may be more of an issue.
Although the unique seatpost and clamp shape on the Liv Avail is attractive, this design here can adjustments a little awkward – hopefully you’ll only have to do it once. Easily upgradable, the Liv is also Di2 ready, so a groupset upgrade or higher spec wheels could easily build on this great frame.
The D-shaped seatpost and clamp are attractive, but a little fiddly. Photo by Liv
Last but not least
Aesthetically, this model from Liv is pretty hot to look at. A ‘charcoal’ base with teal and purple detailing gives a subtly feminine looking bike, without being OTT. The Avail was certainly attracted a lot of attention from the BikeRadar testers for its good looks.
The Avail Advanced Pro 2 is a great choice for club and Sportive riders seeking a perennial, comfortable road bike for relishing miles at speed. With some great features to allow you to ride through the winter too, it’s not only gorgeous but also practical. Above all, once you hop onto the saddle and clip in your cleats, this bike just screams – ‘take me faster’!
This review was part of the Women’s Road Bike of the Year testing from BikeRadar – full review from Aoife Glass here.
