First Look: 2024 Liv Pique Advanced 29 is Slacker, Lighter & Stiffer
It's been over four years since I rode the 2020 Pique 29 at Liv's launch event in Vermont and now, as we approach the Paris Olympics, the brand has released a new version of their flagship XC race bike that will be ridden on the XC World Cup circuit by Liv Factory Racing's Linda Indergand, Jenn Jackson, and Ronja Blöchlinger this season.
Indergand rode the last Pique to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, so the previous bike was obviously no slouch, but the third-generation Pique has evolved to be a more capable bike on increasingly technical cross-country race tracks. It now features 115mm of rear travel and a 120mm fork, compared to the 100mm front and rear of its predecessor, is 1.5 degrees slacker and has a longer reach. All bikes come ready to tackle technical tracks with a dropper post and 2.4" tires.
Indergand rode the last Pique to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, so the previous bike was obviously no slouch, but the third-generation Pique has evolved to be a more capable bike on increasingly technical cross-country race tracks. It now features 115mm of rear travel and a 120mm fork, compared to the 100mm front and rear of its predecessor, is 1.5 degrees slacker and has a longer reach. All bikes come ready to tackle technical tracks with a dropper post and 2.4" tires.
Pique Advanced Details
• 115 mm travel rear, 120 mm fork
• 29" wheels
• FlexPoint Pro Suspension system
• Carbon only
• 1468 gram frame (claimed, size S)
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L
• 406, 420, 432, 445 mm reach
• 67 degree head tube angle
• Price: $5,499 - $14,999 CDN / €4,799 - €12,999
• liv-cycling.com/
• 115 mm travel rear, 120 mm fork
• 29" wheels
• FlexPoint Pro Suspension system
• Carbon only
• 1468 gram frame (claimed, size S)
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L
• 406, 420, 432, 445 mm reach
• 67 degree head tube angle
• Price: $5,499 - $14,999 CDN / €4,799 - €12,999
• liv-cycling.com/
The most significant change, however, is a move from Maestro suspension to a flex pivot. This is one of the ways that Liv has managed to shave 297 grams off the previous generation frame. The other two ways that they've been able to reduce the overall weight of the Pique are by using a lighter, stiffer carbon for the frame and by redesigning its shape.
Frame Details
The new Pique looks significantly different from the last version of this bike, with a straight top tube where there used to be a bent one and a wider, more square profile to the downtube, top tube, and chainstays. Liv says that the re-engineered frame provides increased stiffness and strength while using less material.
According to Liv, the new bike has a 10% increase in pedalling stiffness and a 6% increase in torsional stiffness, and the scales show that it's a whopping 297 grams lighter. It now weighs in at 1,468 grams for a size small, unpainted production frame, with the rear derailleur hanger and all production hardware (bearing/bolt of each pivot, water bottle bolts, etc.) Liv says that switching to a lighter, superior proprietary carbon fiber material is another way they have reduced the weight of the frame.
There are frame mounts for two bottles on the Small, Medium and Large frames inside the front triangle and one can be accommodated inside the front triangle on the XS frame.
Other details include a new design for internal cable routing for derailleur, brake, and dropper post, Boost hub spacing, a custom chain guide, 3M clear foil down tube protector, and a chainstay protector.
Suspension
Like many modern cross-country bikes, the Liv Pique uses a flex pivot suspension design. The flexing action of the full-composite swingarm junction creates 115mm of rear wheel travel. What Liv is calling their FlexPoint Pro suspension design minimizes weight compared to the Maestro suspension design since it eliminates the lower rocker arm, using a single full composite upper rocker arm instead. It also has three pivots instead of four. Liv says that the design provides improved control, increased traction, and more efficient power transfer.
While Liv says that the suspension on the Pique is designed for women by women, their average target weight range for suspension tuning is between 50kg and 90kg (110 - 198lb) and so they will fit a wide range of riders.
Unlike the previous top of the line Pique, the Pique Advanced 0 doesn't come with Fox Live Valve, opting instead for a Fox 34 Float SC Factory fork and a Fox Float SL Factory rear shock.
Geometry
The new Pique is a degree and a half slacker than the previous generation with its 67 degree head tube angle and has a longer reach, with the XS and Small sizes growing 7mm, the Medium growing 5mm and the Large growing 6mm. The reach numbers are 406mm for the XS, 420mm for the Small, 432mm for the Medium, and 445mm for the Large.
The seat tube angle is now 2 degrees steeper at 76 degrees and the chainstays have been shortened by 3mm to 435mm across the board.
Liv Pique Advanced 0 - $14,999 CDN / Not available in the US / $13,999 AUD / € 12,999 / £11,999
Liv Pique Advanced 1 - $8,999 CDN / $7,500 USD / $9,499 AUD / € 7,999 - 8,300 depending on specific market / £6,999
Liv Pique Advanced 2 - Not available in Canada, the US or Australia / € 5,199 - 5,400 depending on specific market / £4,999
Liv Pique Advanced 3 - $5,499 CDN / $4,500 USD / $6,299 AUD / € 4,799
Specs & price
There are four price points for the Liv Pique Advanced, but you won't find all four models in any market except Italy. You can see what bikes are available in your market and how much they retail for in the chart below.
Spec highlights include Fox Float SL shocks, Fox 34 Float SC forks on the top three models, Maxxis Aspen 29x2.4 tires, and dropper posts across the board. The top of the line Pique Advanced 0 receives the Fox Transfer post, while the other three models get Giant's Contact Switch AT dropper.
Bars are 760mm wide and cranks are specific to the frame size, with the XS receiving a 165mm crank, Small a 170mm crank, Medium a 170mm, and Large a 175mm crank.
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Reach tops out at 445 mm, though...
I know this is a lot, but I didn't want to cut out any information. I encourage you to reply with your own view point, because I believe that getting all the sides of an argument is the most important part about engaging in American democracy.
Ok, I hate to actually get political on this account, but comon man. You've obviously fallen for right-wing propaganda, and I do not say this as some kind of liberal advocate. Yes, Biden is old. No, he isn't my first choice for president. But doing a holistic review of his decision making while in term shows hes doing what's best for the American public, regardless of his age, going off of statistics. Before you say it, I hate CNN/MNSBC as much as I hate newsmaxx/fox news. I fact check what I see on social media, and though my own research I've seen that there's so much misinformation around politics that I cant even be upset at you for being that way. All I can do is urge you to educate yourself, fact check your information, and understand your role in the American democracy requires effort, and an understanding of both sides of the argument.
#TLDR; Doing a review of bidens presidency shows that he is acually a good president, you have just succumbed to misinformation. I do not blame you, however I urge you to be better and to fact check infomation., Good sources include AP News, Christan Science Monitor, Aljerezzia, and reuters. Bad sources include Social Media, Fox, CNN.
I'm going to address each of your points one by one, if you want I can DM you sources for each of my points
1) Open Borders: Yes, there are illigeal migrant surges thorough the US. However, these are due to a multitude of factors, chiefly horrible political situations in Central/South America(cartel states, gang violence, very little/no public infrastructure. We have seen Biden request 5 million in emergency funding to help address this, in addition to trying to solve the actual reasons people are coming to the US.
2)War on Oil: I fully support the war on the oil/gas. These companies are greedily destroying the world we live in, and as mountain bikers enjoy, in order to line to pockets of billionaires. Even if you are a climate denier, you can not deny the immeasurable benefit going energy independent would have upon the US's political situation. We would no longer be reliant on Russia/Iran/Saudi Arabia.
3)Sanctuary Cities: First, I don't understand how this relates to Biden. These are induvial cities choosing to house immigrants, but whatever. I really don't see the issue with this, 99.999% of immigrants are looking for a better life, and will work hard in these cities. This has also been shown to decrease crime by migrants, because it provides them a safe place to work legally.
4) Crime: Crime has been falling? I dont understand what your point is, it surged in 2019/2020 and has been falling consistently.
5)Inflation: We are dealing with a post COVID economy, so there was bound to be some weird effects on the economy. However, thanks to specific policies implemented by Biden, we are now in a state that economists are calling "extremly strong" having avoided a total recession that many thought was inevitable.
6)Electric cars: Biden has not proposed any Gas Car ban, however induvial states have. This is really not that bad, I agree on the electric cars are shitty part, but we have until 2035 to fix that. You wont be banned for using a gas car, you just wont be able to buy a new one if the states pass the legislature. And again, very few states have actually passed it. Biden himself is a huge car guy, owning multiple retro corvettes.
7)Foreign Policy: What foreign policy? Broad generalizations mean nothing to me. Any examples?
NO CABLE TOURISM TOO. GIANT FOR PRESIDENT! :-D
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