Marin Lowe landed on the podium both days the Canada Cup season opener. The early-season cross country weekend sets the Liv Factory Racing rider, currently based out of Victoria, up for another big year of World Cup racing this season. She’ll do so aboard a very fast looking Liv Pique Advanced.
The Pique is Liv’s latest cross country whip, officially launching in November 2025. Like it’s sibling brand, Giant, the Liv’s XC bike has 120mm travel front and rear via a flex-pivot rear triangle connected to a top-tube mounted shock. For Lowe, that’s a Fox Float SL with remote lockout.
Up front, there’s a 120mm Fox 34 SL. you know you’ve made it when not just your frame, but your fork and shock all get your name on them. Like the Float SL, Lowe’s fork has a remote lockout for maximum efficiency.
Speaking of efficiency, Lowe’s running Maxxis’s very fast Aspen tires with MaxxSpeed rubber and the super-supple One70 casing. That combo maximises rolling speed without giving up what grip the Aspen does have.
Those tires are wrapped around DT Swiss XCR 1200 wheels and, based on the stickers and valves, hide CushCore tire inserts for a bit of extra safety at race tire pressures.
Lowe is running Shimano’s XTR drivetrain with a power meter and CSixx 34-tooth chainring. Out back, there’s an XTR Di2 derailleur and 10-51 cassette.
A numbered “Factory Test Prototype Frame” for Lowe and named Fox Float SL with cable-actuated remote lockout. The geo-adjust flip chip is set in the high position for racing. While Giant launched the Anthem a bit further back, the Pique only recently became an official part of Liv’s line-up.
An integrated bar-stem combo, headset-routed hoses and cables, and Garmin 840-head unit. XC cockpits can be… busy. Lowe had a creative remote set-up to control the fork/shock lockout and Transfer SL dropper post.
A little industrial looking, but clean considering how many cables there are.
Shimano 2-piston XTR calipers
With the new Shimano XTR Trail levers for a slightly different feel at the bars than the “XC” levers
A comparatively calm right side of the Pique
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