Liv Avail Advanced Pro 1

Take the long way home, and the Avail’s smooth ride will certainly make it easy. A long 1,016-millimeter wheelbase and 420-millimeter chainstays add stability and control when riding dirt roads or cruising down sweeping descents. Riders looking for an upright riding position will love the Avail’s tall 190-millimeter head tube. A relaxed 72-degree head tube angle makes for slower, more stable steering. It’s better suited for gran fondos than for crits if that’s what you’re after.

Bumpy dirt roads don’t sting as bad thanks to the bike’s D-shaped carbon seat post. It helps absorb road vibrations before they reach your body so you’ll finish rides feeling fresher. The Avail can also accommodate bigger tires – thanks to its disc brakes – adding extra compliance and bump absorption over rough terrain.

A wide 86-millimeter bottom bracket gives the Avail some get-up-and-go, and we were impressed with the surprisingly responsive ride. In fact, the Avails has one of the stiffest bottom brackets we tested, recording just 0.38-millimeters of deflection in our lab. This pairs well with the compliant ride, preventing a mushy feeling when riding hard or powering up a climb.

Shimano’s Ultegra drivetrain helps keep the price down to a competitive $3,250. It also opens up a wide gear range with a compact 50/34 crankset and 11-32 cassette. Disc brakes are a nice upgrade if you’re still on rim brakes, providing more reliable stopping power in bad weather and better braking modulation. The Avail is a capable endurance bike for those of us who live for long weekend adventures but who won’t hesitate to race our friends to the next town line either.

Component Highlights: Shimano Ultegra drivetrain with 50/34 crankset and 11-32 cassette; Shimano RS685 hydraulic dis brakes; Giant SLR 1 Disc Wheelsystem
Weight: 17.0 pounds (size large)