When Liv was born in 2008, the Avail was its calling card. Here was a versatile and capable W road bike that epitomised the brand's ethos of creating functional, high-performance cycling products specifically for women. "This wasn't merely a smaller, 'prettier' version of a men's bike," says Meg Hung, global Liv on-road category manager. "We started from scratch to optimise every detail from frame geometry to component selection." And so it continues.
The fifth iteration of the Avail, offered in the Advanced Pro and Advanced lines, sees a redesigned frameset aimed at furthering the bike's credentials as a genuine all-rounder. Light yet comfortable tend to be the hallmarks of all good endurance bikes, allowing for longer rides across a range of road surfaces, and the redesigned Avail, made at the Giant Group's composite facility, sticks to this script.
To improve comfort and reduce rider fatigue, frame clearance has been increased to accommodate tyres up to 38mm in width (light gravel anyone?). This is matched with inbuilt compliance in the form of thin, dropped seatstays, which help to further dampen vibrations from the rear wheel. The revamped fork (either Advanced SL-grade or Advanced-grade composite depending on the bike model) is designed to do the same at the front end.
This story is from the September 21, 2023 edition of Cycling Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 21, 2023 edition of Cycling Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Claud Butler Criterium
A classic British brand ridden by beginners and Olympians alike
Dr Hutch
At what point does a bold show of strength become brazen showboating? The Doc ponders the etiquette of the long solo break
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...CBD
From reducing pain to promoting relaxation and sleep, myriad are the claims made for cannabidiol but do they stack up? Rob Kemp finds out
Van Rysel D900
Andy Turner discovers whether Decathlon's high-spec, low-price smart trainer can compete with the likes of Wahoo, Tacx and Elite
What prep does my bike need for summer?
Pro bike mechanic Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike
2024 GIRO D'ITALIA
Attention turns to Italy and 21 days of Grand Tour action
Pogačar's dominance at the Giro could be dull
While I may have been a little young to understand the full romance of the Tour de France during the Armstrong era, I never understood the sentiment that it was boring just because of Lance's dominance.
Team GB's Paris Olympics track bike launched
BC reveals the bike that it hopes will power riders to medals in Paris this summer
Romandie victory marks Ineos return to stage race success
Carlos Rodríguez wins British team's first WorldTour stage race since 2022, writes Adam Becket
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.