You can expect more "bang for your buck". More "puddin' for your pound". More "fun your your florin" and definately more "dazzle for your dollar" with the 2012 Giant Talon 0. Amazingly bikes just seem to get better and better each year, either upgrading in several areas for a similar price, or perhaps retaining much of the same features, but reducing in price. The value for money equation is so far in the purchasers favour when compared to previous years that it often leads to the situation where even those with just an inkling they may want/need a new bike end up getting one. The prices are just too good to refuse.

The 2012 Talon 0 is a bike like this. For just over $1,000 you get an amazing array of components and features, that simply wasn't possible a few years ago. Beginning with the super light, hydro-formed aluminium alloy frame with integrated gusseting which is not only light but also extremely strong, Giant have built a great hard tail Mountain Bike suitable for weekend enduro's or daily trail bashing.

The Rock Shox cross country forks come with the handy remote pop-loc which means you are able to "turn off" the suspension via a small handlebar mounted lever for those times when fork travel isn't needed or may be dangerous. So convenient having this at your finger tips. The Talon 0 comes with a full range of the upmarket Giant Connect components and has a Shimano 27 speed drive train, complimented by hydraulic disc brakes, Maxxis Crossmark tyres, lock on grips and Giant S-XC 2 wheels.

The Talon bikes have always been great to ride and the new Talon 0 with its great range of parts will be the best one yet.

Just about everyone that rides a bike realises it is doing you some good. The physicality of it obviously gets your muscles working, raises your heart rate and expands your lungs, maybe even draws sweat if you try a bit harder. All good physical benefits from doing some exercise, but riding a bike has other benefits.

Sure there is the environment. Clean and green and all that, but be a little selfish about it and realise that the exhilaration experienced and the mind clearing achieved when riding is as good a feeling mentaly as the exrecise is physically. Euphoria is perhaps too strong a term (unless you're having a really great ride) but the sense of wellbing and the clear headedness may let your mind wander, to consider the world and how great things are, especially when having a ride. Your thoughts may even wander to obscure topics such as foreign exchange rates...................especially if you're riding a brand new bike that is better than your old one but was cheaper to buy. How does that happen you wonder?

Many of us go through our day to day lives without any thought of currency exchange rates or what bearing their movement has on us directly. Prices go up and down, well not down so often, but in the past 2 years with the Australian dollar getting stronger and stronger the prices of bikes have gradually come down, so far that even pretty decent quality bikes are quite cheap.

Mid range bikes like the Talon 1 and their buyers are the real beneficiaries of this favorable currency situation as it is this price range of bike that has a really noticeable price reduction. It was at around this model of bike just a couple of years ago that you would expect to start to get into a really good bike. Something you could race on or give some pretty heavy use. This hasn't changed, what has changed is the price you need to pay. Just a few years ago you would have been looking at $1200 or so and now this more serious style of bike is just $899.

Quite a sophisticated group of components including Avid hydraulic disc brakes, Roack Shox suspension forks, 27 speed Shimano gears, and Giant accessories are fitted to a super light aluminium frame. The overall effect is a bike that will provide hours of fun for many years, as everything is of a good standard and can be expected to last with a minimum of fuss.

The Giant Talon 2 is an upgrade from the Boulder 1, (which for many years was Giant's most popular model), and is an ideal bike for anyone who needs the rugged reliability of a proper off roader but who still may use the bike as a means of transport a few days a week. The Talon range is made from a higher grade alumuminium, ALUXX SL (stands for Super Light), this superior alloy offers 18% more tensile strength than Giant's other proprietary alloy, ALUXX, used in the Boulder range. It is also used as the basis for a range of decent quality parts have been assembled to ensure years of trouble free riding. With a substantial equipment upgrade from the Boulder, the Talon is ideal as a recreational level bike, ideal for bike paths, rough tracks and more strenuous off-road adventures. There are other models better suited to regular forays into the wilderness and others better suited to the daily commute to work, but if your budget, (or partner) won't come at a fleet of bikes, each ideal for a particular purpose, then the universality of the Talon just may be the answer you need. A great all-rounder!

Looking through the range of Giant mountain bikes, the Boulder 1 really stands out as it is the first model available with disc brakes. The Boulder 1 is a little more upmarket in the suspension department too, with lighter weight, stronger forks than the lower Boulder models. These two features of superior brakes and suspension are substantial benefits for any riders who will ride a little more often or in adverse conditions or for the heavier rider.

These features combined with great quality Shimano 24 speed Altus gear system, Giant wheels and tyres, comfortable saddle and the great alloy Boulder frame result in a fantastic package not too far over $500.

Over the years, the Giant Boulder has earned a reputation as a solid performer, reliable in the long term, easy to use and handle and pretty good value for money. These favourable traits are even more evident with the 2012 model benefitting from a strong Australian dollar allowing Giant to supply a top notch package for a mid range price.

For lots of our customers, buying a bike purely based on price is how they prefer to make a selection. Many people have no interest in the technicalities, such as which model deraileurs are fitted or how much travel the suspension forks have. For many people it is enough to have decided upon a price and to be happy with the bike that this brings. Many customers have a new bike budget of $500 and are usually quite happily surprised with a bike like the Boulder 2 which is an excellent quality mountain bike that could be used everyday for any of the reasons people cycle, such as for fun, fitness, transport, commuting and as a rough and tough off roader on the weekends. The Boulder 2 is not a full blown "serious" mountain bike, but then it isn't $1000 either. It is simply a godd quality, easy riding, robust bike that should be expected to last for many years.

The 2012 Giant Boulder 2 features an alloy frame, which carries Giants standard life time guarantee and comes in both female and male options and in a range of sizes to suit adults of all heights.

The Boulder 2 has a quality 24 speed Shimano gear system, which has a range suitable for all forms of riding and all fitness levels. These gears are very easy to use and have a visual indicator to let the rider just where he or she is up to. The 2012 Giants come with very comfortable saddles and hand grips and the Boulder 2 also has front suspension forks to aid comfort and control on rougher ground. The forks are adjustable so the rider can select just how soft or firm they prefer the "feel" of the bike. The Boulder 2 is fitted with an alloy Giant wheelset which have a cassette rear hub, quick release axles, stainless stell spokes and Giant tyres.

A good buy for less than $500, and one that will make our "buy by price" customers very happy.

The second bike in the Giant mountain bike range for 2012, the Boulder 3 is the first model to have suspension forks. Although still a recreational level mountain bike the Giant Boulder 3 is designed for and can be used for mildly rough off road riding as well as being entirely suitable for use "just as a normal bike".

The Boulder range of bikes all have alloy frames and many alloy components, including the wheels to keep the weight to a minimum making riding just that bit easier and more enjoyable. The frame has pannier rack mounts just in case you want to bolt on a rack to carry gear to work each day, books to school or a basket full of groceries back home from the shops. Water bottle mounts are also part of the frame so you can carry a drink with you on longer rides or warm days.

The Giant Boulder 3 has RST Capa T suspension forks, which are adjustable should you wish to experiment with different settings and ride feel. Most people never touch the adjuster but it is there if you want to have a play. The Boulder 3 has 21 speed Shimano gearing which is easy to use thanks to the SIS system, which indicates that the gears are indexed, meaning that they click into each gear as you move the lever. The lever also incorporates a visual display so you can check what gear you are in which can be handy if you are trying to decide whether this hill is really steep or you are really unfit. Very easy to use, even for a novice and something to be relished rather than feared.

Being a recreational mountain bike, the Boulder 3 has quite a relaxed seating position, so that the rider can sit reasonably upright without too much forward leaning which can bring some discomfort to the lower back with some bikes.

For the 2012 range, Giant have continued their introduction of Giant branded product, with Giant wheels and Giant tyres featuring along with other colour coded Giant accessories. A nice bike for not too much money and available in both female and male frames.