Mountain Biking - my son just got a 2012 Giant Talon 2 29er - woohoo!

last weekend he has his first MTB race in high school with his HEAVY Magna bike from Target... he placed 3rd!

so he's serious now - got himself a Giant Talon 2 29er - much more expensive than his store bought bike, but WOW he's much faster now!

Since the front shock isn't very adjustable is there anything that can be added/changed to help out?

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_us/bikes/models/images/550/2012/Talon_29er_2_GU-GI.jpg

I helped him out and got him a nice MiNewt 300 USB rechargable light @ 300 lumens - he can SEE and BE SEEN at night! :)

That is a great step in the right direction. How tall and weight is your son? What kind of racing is he looking to do?

I would let him get 6 months of riding and racing in before I do much upgrading and to see how the bike responds to his style. The bike is a huge step up from Mr. Magna, but it is pretty basic for racing. The derailers may be one of the first items that wear out, or the rims. The fork allows for lots of upgrade. Those are some of my thoughts.

For now, I would enjoy the heck out of riding a quality 29er. Once he gets his skills and stamina built up then the upgrades you do will really "accentuate the positive."

OH, make sure he has some bright red on his back side, maybe some safety green to wear. I know what is in front of me, its what sneaks up behind the scares me.

That is a great step in the right direction. How tall and weight is your son? What kind of racing is he looking to do?

I would let him get 6 months of riding and racing in before I do much upgrading and to see how the bike responds to his style. The bike is a huge step up from Mr. Magna, but it is pretty basic for racing. The derailers may be one of the first items that wear out, or the rims. The fork allows for lots of upgrade. Those are some of my thoughts.

For now, I would enjoy the heck out of riding a quality 29er. Once he gets his skills and stamina built up then the upgrades you do will really "accentuate the positive."

he's 15 y/o and about 6'1" and about 135 - so he's as lean as the bike :) (if not leaner!)
he's absolutely LOVING the ride for now - but he's alot like me, once he gets something has to tweak it :)

I'm hoping he gets a good bump into the CAT3 (or even CAT2 riders) now since he placed well in Novice... who knows - it may happen! :)

OH, make sure he has some bright red on his back side, maybe some safety green to wear. I know what is in front of me, its what sneaks up behind the scares me.


agreed - he has a red-blinker on the bike and I got him a blink for his camelbak too

Nice 29er...welcome to the dark side!!

Not sure what wheelset comes on it but saving up for lighter Stans, or the like, would be the best move he could make. Great that he is racing and liking it I hope my kids do the same. and some eggbeaters