Views on the Apollo Gradient

victoriacollings
victoriacollings Posts: 5
in MTB buying advice
My son is a triathlete and has a really good road bike but needs a mountain/trail bike for the occasional off road tri events. I've seen an Apollo gradient for sale locally. Any views on them?
Bear in mind, he's growing like a weed and we're expecting him to grow a lot in the next 2 years........
Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • tight_git
    tight_git Posts: 57
    edited December 2020
    If you are not prepared to consider a secondhand bike (which would be of much better quality for the same price) stick to a hard tail mountain bike. A full suspension bike at that price will be really heavy and the suspension components really low quality.

    Have a look at the Decathlon range if you have a shop near you, the Apollo range are not generally well thought of.

    Supplies of new bikes are still probably not very good due to covid.

    Good luck.

    Edit to say that if it is secondhand as it's local to you I'm sure you could find something better. If he is used to a good road bike he will probably hate the Apollo.
  • victoriacollings
    victoriacollings Posts: 5


    Any thoughts on this? For sale local to me
  • danx
    danx Posts: 27
    edited December 2020
    Hi Victoria

    I'm afraid that's a very poor bike that will not do your son any favours. It's made from very poor quality, heavy and unreliable parts with a inefficient suspension design that will waste a lot of pedalling effort.

    When you have a low budget you can get something basic but OK, or something trying hard to look too flashy for the price but is total rubbish underneath the looks. That's what this is.

    You don't mention how much they are asking for this, but as per the above post, you should be able to find a simple hardtail at the same price that will be better. Although looking at that it will (should) be a very low price which might make a reliable, competitive race bike harder to find for the same money.

    What kind of budget do you have? You don't have to go crazy to get something that will let him participate but that bike is really not going to work well for what he needs.
  • reaperactual
    reaperactual Posts: 1,185
    +1 for a second hand hardtail for value for money. +1 would be for a trip to Decathlon. A decent specced full suspension bike for a bare minimum budget would probably be a B'Twin Rockrider 520s.

    Retail price is around £350 so something like £150 for second hand would be worth looking for and the best F.S. you could expect to get on a low budget.
  • slowmart
    slowmart Posts: 4,516
    You might want to consider some gravel type tyres to fit your sons existing road bike? It will depend if the off road tri course is not too challenging in terms of terrain?

    Two bikes and he’s a growing lad means twice the expense when he outgrows the bikes and you need to upgrade.
    “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”

    Desmond Tutu
  • loltoride
    loltoride Posts: 460
    victoriacollings said:



    Any thoughts on this? For sale local to me

    Dont do it - Get down to Halfords or something you will find something of good value or shall I say online or what about second hand through pinbike or gumtree.
    So Far!
  • victoriacollings
    victoriacollings Posts: 5
    Thank you all. Your views are very helpful. It’s a minefield trying to not have to sell a kidney to buy a second bike for him. I’ve found another second hand bike which might be an option.
  • ToneC
    ToneC Posts: 33
    The bikes you've posted are terrible to be honest and would probably fail if taken off road , they will be heavy ( I think someone said scaffold poles ) and wouldn't be good.

    How old is he/ how tall / heavy and what are the courses like he uses ?

    What's your budget if we can be so impertinent?
  • karljeff72
    karljeff72 Posts: 64
    Give Facebook market place a try or find a Carrera that's only a few years old.
  • ToneC
    ToneC Posts: 33
    Can u link to any of the off road events he does please ? Might be better with a gravel bike or cyclo-cross if those are legal for those events?
  • victoriacollings
    victoriacollings Posts: 5
    Hi,
    Thank you all for your help. He’s about 14, 5’9” but very lean (I’m not allowed to call him skinny). His events tend to be gravel track but are also forest trails. He’s going into the Youth section of triathlon competition next year.
    I’ve looked around on marketplace and gumtree which is where most of the bikes I’ve posted have come from. What worries me is that there are an awful lot of the better brands which are very cheap which makes me think they’re probably stolen. I don’t want to buy a stolen bike.

  • reaperactual
    reaperactual Posts: 1,185
    edited December 2020
    Suppose buying a stolen bike is definitely something to be aware of.

    Although on the other hand there are probably good reasons for some good brand bikes being on sale for a good price. A 3-4 year older model is far cheaper than its original price for instance.

    I wouldn't rule them out, genuine sellers have genuine reasons for selling and should also be willing and eager to answer any questions you might have, provide relevent paper work like proof of puchase for a bike bought brand new, for example.

    Maybe you have a relative or friend who knows what you're looking for who could help look through ads and ask the right questions to ensure you get the genuine article?
  • karljeff72
    karljeff72 Posts: 64
    edited December 2020
    Things to look for on the likes of Gumtree and marketplace ads are,very little description/ blurred photo's and spelling mistakes.
    If you do buy one from these places ask for proof of purchase or if not ask for serial numbers and if they make excuses keep away.

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