FIRST RIDE REPORT

2024 LIV PIQUE ADVANCED 29 0

Words by Emma Wooldridge  |  Photos by Cole Gregg

Liv sent me a lovely present right before Valentine’s Day in the form of the new Pique Advanced 29 0 for testing. Given how comfortable I was on the Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0, I opted for the size medium on the Pique as well. Spokane was right in the middle of its Spring #1 and I managed to take the Pique for a few spins before Winter #2 blew in. And with a quick trip to Duthie Hill on the west side, I’ve garnered plenty of time on this cross-country race bike to give my first impressions.

THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Liv has been paying attention to the ever-increasing intensity of the World Cup race courses and its factory team was eager to help redesign the Pique into an efficient machine that could perform in the chunk and the flow. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on an XC bike and I was excited to see what this new generation is capable of across a variety of trails. I knew it would have its limitations, but I was pleasantly surprised how far I could push this bike until it slapped back.

The slacker head tube angle and increased reach allowed me to attack rock gardens and small drops. The 29ers reduced the need for precision and with more travel on the 3rd iteration of the Pique, I felt confident on the majority of my home trails. A shortened chainstay strikes a balance between stability and maneuverability. The lighter frameset and optimized components on the Advanced 29 0 had me rolling in fast on jumps that usually needed a couple pedals. Even though it’s intended for racing, it easily dresses down into a playful, poppy bike. I’ve had loads of fun improving my jumping skills without ever tiring on the Pique.

Half convinced that I could race this bike in a spring enduro, I ventured down one of Beacon’s trails that requires a rider to carry speed otherwise you’ll be doing some technical climbing straight into rock rolls. The Pique maintains momentum well and it crushed the trickier sections, proving responsive to my feedback. As I carefully traced over skinny rock features, I decided to give one of the steeper, less-forgiving rock rolls a go. Clearly, I slacked on the push-ups over winter and the bike, being pushed to its limits, had nothing left to give as it cast me aside. This was predictable – the Pique is not a miracle bike obviously BUT it’s confidence-inducing, so there’s that.

A couple of the biggest updates on the reimagined Pique include the lighter and stiffer frame from the proprietary carbon fiber materials and modified tube shapes that are now square and straight instead of rounded and bent. Liv shaved off 297 grams to get a frameset weighing 1,468 grams. It’s already a light bike but the difference is greater than half a pound, so you might actually notice it. The Pique has made the transition from my winter hibernation couch to the trails significantly less painful. The pedaling platform is supportive and I feel like I can really dig in when sprinting. I have ample clearance in technical uphill sections and the 3-position remote lockout located next to the grip came in handy for efficient road climbing. But the most significant change they’ve brought to this bike is Liv’s FlexPoint Pro suspension system to replace the Maestro. Used by XC racers, FlexPoint Pro eliminates the unnecessary pivot points and the lower rocker arm to create a superlight and active rear suspension system, minimizing the flexing of the chainstay/seatstay junction.

Liv surely doesn’t stifle any creativity when it comes to its colorways. I’ll admit, I’m biased towards last year’s Mirage on the Intrigues, but the Mulberry Glitter combined with gold details in the branding and matching components commands attention. As far as the specifications go, I’ve grown into a big fan of the Shimano XTR’s and have ample braking power to slow down this runaway train of a bike. I was a little skeptical of the Maxxis Aspens, coming from someone who is currently riding Schwalbe’s Magic Mary tires, but given the grip of the early spring dirt, I haven’t had too much trouble yet with their on/off feel, more-so the lack of braking traction. The Zipp 1ZERO HiTop SL wheelset comes with Tyrewiz 2.0, which is a technology that I don’t hate for once since I secretly do not pay attention to my tire pressure as much as I should. I’ve been a bit of a critic when it comes to Fox’s Live Valve but I mentioned in my review of the Liv Intrigue LT Advanced Pro 0 that it might be more suited on a cross-country bike where you’re looking for a little more efficiency and stiffness. I’ll never get to test my theory, though, as none of the Pique Advanced 29 models come equipped with Live Valve. Liv opted to move away from it for this series in an effort to reduce weight and cost. I’m not mad about it. I think we can all appreciate the extra space for bottle cages that this decision freed up. Even without Live Valve, this is still an expensive bike. The Advanced 29 0 model isn’t listed as being offered in the US, but you can find it in nearby Canada for 14,999 CAD.

A slogan you often read from Liv’s marketing team is “by women, for women.” What does that even mean? Well, I’m not sure that everyone buys into the idea of women needing a women’s-specific bike but in a tougher, more competitive market, I think that Liv recognizes riders prefer to spend their money on quality products from brands that share their values. Liv’s reach extends beyond the shelves and factory riders (which is a pretty deep roster of women compared to other brands) and into our local communities. Liv has partnered with the Black Foxes, a collective with a mission to welcome more Black people into outdoor spaces, and Ladies AllRide, a women’s mountain bike skills camp, to support them with Liv bikes. Liv takes any opportunity, like at Crankworx Whistler or Cape Epic, to create more spaces for women to feel comfortable and grow the women’s mountain biking community. Heck, even my local women’s bike group, with over 1,700 wonderful ladies, was started by a Liv ambassador! After attending Liv’s pre-launch event, I realized how absolutely cool and unique it was to be on a Zoom meeting learning about the Pique with marketers, designers, engineers, and athletes who have all been directly involved in the creation of this bike – and they were all women. If you happen to have the cash to shell out and you’re someone who prioritizes supporting women, you might want to consider Liv for your next bike.
I’m not only excited to continue testing to see where this bike shines, but also to see how the Pique Advanced 29 propels Liv’s Factory riders like Jenn Jackson on the world track. Race season is right around the corner, so we’ll know soon if the Pique can elevate your riding to new heights!

Continue scrolling to learn more about the new LIV Pique Advanced series, or visit LIV’s website.

PRESS RELEASE

THE NEW LIV PIQUE ADVANCED 29 SERIES

The performance XC bike was optimized for efficiency and control, catering to race-minded riders to meet the demands of modern cross-country courses.

Liv, the company dedicated to getting more women on bikes, today launched the new Pique Advanced 29 series, the 3rd generation of the performance XC product line. Tailored for race-minded cross-country riders, this series excels across both technical and fast terrains, blending efficient power transfer with precise control. Key updates include reduced weight, improved stiffness, refined geometry, and the introduction of FlexPoint Pro Suspension Technology, positioning it as a cornerstone in Liv’s 2024 performance-level lineup.

“It’s an exciting new era in XC racing as courses get more technical and riders are stepping up to meet the challenge. Liv is at the forefront of supporting this shift,” said Ludi Scholz, Liv’s Global Off-road & Gravel Category Manager. “The Pique Advanced 29 represents our commitment to every woman who is pushing her limits in racing, from local events to the World Cup stage. We’re here not just to keep pace, but to inspire and equip the next generation of women riders to conquer these demanding courses and make their own impact in the sport.”

The new Pique Advanced 29 boasts significant technological and design advancements. The frame’s proprietary high-performance grade raw carbon fiber has been upgraded to an even lighter material, resulting in an overall weight decrease of 297g from the previous generation. Reengineered tube shapes also contribute to this weight reduction, achieving necessary strength with less material. Additionally, these wider, square-shaped tubes have improved stiffness, resulting in a 6% increase in torsional stiffness and a 10% boost in pedaling stiffness, ensuring more effective power transfer.

In its latest iteration, the Pique Advanced 29 series transitions from the previous generation’s Maestro Suspension Technology to the more efficient and lighter weight FlexPoint Pro Suspension Technology. This new suspension technology provides a patented, linkage-driven, single pivot design that effectively isolates forces, leading to improved control and increased traction. Riders will experience less fatigue and consistent performance, empowering them to confidently and swiftly navigate both challenging climbs and technical descents. The FlexPoint Pro suspension delivers 115mm of smooth, active rear-wheel travel, to maximize power and traction over versatile and challenging terrain. Combined with a slacker head tube angle and 120mm of front suspension, this setup ensures superior handling on technical descents.

To meet the demands of the increasing technicality of XC race courses, Liv has optimized the geometry of the Pique Advanced 29. A steeper seat tube angle increases pedaling efficiency during climbing and sprinting and a slacker head tube is intended for better descending performance and control. The longer reach means more aggressive and commanding riding due to a lower body position, and a shorter chainstay makes the bike even more agile and responsive when navigating switchbacks. These upgrades, coupled with increased rear and front wheel travel and 29-inch wheels, ensure the Pique Advanced 29 is Liv’s most capable XC offering to date.

Other important upgrades include an additional set of frame mounts under the top tube on sizes S, M, and L, providing versatility for attaching a water bottle cage or other accessories, ideal for long races and training sessions. The addition of new, integrated cable ports offer a clean look and smoother performance for derailleur, brake, and dropper seatpost cables. The all-new Giant/MRP chain guide reduces the likelihood of chain derailment on the chainring during rides on rough, technical XC terrain. Additional frame protection has been added to the down tube and chainstay to prevent damage and ensure a quiet and secure ride.

All models in the Pique Advanced 29 series are available in sizes XS, S, M, and L. Learn more at www.liv-cycling.com.

BUILDS AVAILABLE