FIRST RIDE GIANT TRANCE ADVANCED PRO 29 1 & FOX LIVE VALVE GEN 1.5

The all-new Trance Advanced Pro 29 has finally landed and the frame has been re-engineered with adjustable frame geometry and an updated Maestro suspension system. The division/category this bike falls into, as Giant describes, is for “all-around trail performance.” Giant’s product development team worked alongside their riders, like their ambassador – Adam Craig, to bring more trail-specific features and functionality to the table while staying true to the core design of the Trance Advanced Pro 29 as a short-travel trail bike. Overall, this new machine has been produced to coordinate continuous control on technical trails while remaining proficient in climbing and pedaling efficiency. Before today’s launch, our wrecking crew got their hands on the all-new Trance Advanced Pro 29 1 with the latest Fox Live Valve suspension with Gen. 1.5 update. We did a big first ride up in Big Bear, California to see what this latest tech could do.

UPDATES AND WHAT HAS CHANGED

Along with the adjustable bits, there is plenty that has changed on the frame from previous years. The geometry now has a longer reach and steeper seat tube angle (77-degrees). Optimized for 29-inch wheels, the frame has been updated with a slightly longer rear-center measurement (2mm longer than the previous generation), which increases rear tire clearance to offer a maximum width of 2.5 inches. The frame’s new rear suspension setup adds 5mm of travel for a total of 120mm paired with 130mm of travel at the front.

The frame also has some new convenient features for beyond performance needs. There is now integrated downtube storage where a rider has the ability to open a latch in the downtube and store essentials – Snacks, inner tube, C02’s, multi-tool, you get the idea. This all-new Giant also features enough space for a 21oz water bottle within the front triangle, chainstay/down tube protection, updated cable ports to eliminate rattling, and an ISCG-05 interface to mount a chain guide or bash guard.

Making changes on the fly can now be done with help of the all-new flip-chip on the Maestro suspension rocker arm. Like we’ve seen on other bikes with this addition, there are two settings – high or low. The high position is intended for an emphasis on efficiency when pedaling: head angle of 66.2 degrees, seat tube angle at 77-degrees, and a bottom bracket drop of 35mm. The low setting is recommended for faster, more open terrain: switching to low causes the head tube angle to be slacker (65.5 degrees), increases the bottom bracket drop to 45mm, and the seat tube angle at 76.3-degrees. A few other changes that are noteworthy when giving the chip a flip is it will also adjust reach by 8mm, chainstay by 2mm, and the trail (also considered the tire patch) by 6mm.

FOX LIVE VALVE 2022 SYSTEM UPDATE (GEN. 1.5)

Before we cover our first ride, our test subject and build came outfitted with another new launch – Fox Suspension’s latest Live Valve with Gen 1.5 Update. When live valve first hit the market it was only available on Fox’s Factory level options making it steep in price for the most rider to utilize its performance. Now, Live Valve will be offered with other levels and price ranges but that is not all that has changed. On the software side, Fox has tweaked the Live Valve algorithms based on feedback from when it was first launched. They’ve reduced the decline angle required to activate descend mode, lengthened the duration of the timer, and decreased the bump threshold. It is very nerdy stuff but these adjustments are intended to improve descending capabilities of Live Valve without compromising pedaling efficiency. On the hardware side, Live Valve rear shocks now feature an all-new main piston (“mid valve”), borrowed from the Float X2 Performance Series. This is to provide a much broader tuning range. Live Valve forks and shocks have also both received entirely new valve codes (what would be known as “tunes”). Fox also went ahead and changed the “Closed” mode to still be firm, but not totally locked out. Through more research, Fox came to the conclusion that having no suspension results in increased rider fatigue and loss of traction/control. The final exciting update to Live Valve is that it now features Bluetooth connectivity. This allows the system to be controlled on a smartphone via the Live Valve app. Whether it is as simple as switching between the 5 factory pre-set modes or as complex as custom-tuning the specific parameters of each mode to your liking, the all-new generation of Fox Live Valve has stepped it up with much more – more info at www.ridefox.com