I've acquired one of these: Apollo Encounter Hybrid 21"

 

Opinions?

 

I'm not a fan of the style of bike, but I think it's great that you're taking up cycling.

I might add that the bike might need upgrading/changing if you intend to do serious cycling - ie, competitions, long and regular rides etc. Unfortunately, no one at my cycling club rides an Apollo and I can't give you any advice on the general qualities of the brand, though halfords are a very reliable retailer as far as bikes are concerned (especially when it comes to their Boardman brand).

Since it seems to have become the topic right now. If I was looking for a bike to do some general all round biking, some on streets, a bit of trail, and maybe a few long rides. What should I get?

 

Edit: Also, I am no good at gears at all...

Today, I watched the semi-finals of our national league in basketball and something freaking AMAZING happened! A 6-toed Latvian named Armands Škele threw a no-look one-handed on backwards-jump basket from middle of the court!

Un-freaking-believable! I was like totally stunned for 2 minutes... And so was the other team, since in the end with that basket that team named Kalev won by 6 points...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xBhZcXgrw&feature=colike

 

Now that's a once in a lifetime shot. Nice that they got a win out of it.

Since it seems to have become the topic right now. If I was looking for a bike to do some general all round biking, some on streets, a bit of trail, and maybe a few long rides. What should I get?

 

Edit: Also, I am no good at gears at all...

My advice is perhaps not great seeing as I only do long rides or races (all on road), but my guess would be that a mid range or higher cyclocross bike (£500 or more) should last you a fair few years with little or no trouble.

 

As for gears, I really don't know how to avoid using them. Sorry. :P

People often ask me why i am ashamed of being South African, why i hate my mother land so much. This is why:

 

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/SA-could-get-another-apartheid-Uys-20120423

 

This just makes me so sad. Not really the article, but the comments.

Out of curiosity, in what way do gears give you trouble. I don't think any of the modern designs leave any room to mess them up (my old 15 speed could de chain itself with the front derailer, but they don't build them like that anymore), as long as you don't try to shift under high tension.

I have no understanding of them whatsoever.

I have no understanding of them whatsoever.

Like you don't understand how to use them? That would be a fairly simple problem to fix if you know anyone with a geared bike. Just hop on it and ride around for a couple minutes and try different gears. You'll figure out what they do pretty quickly. You don't really need anymore understanding of them than that. Unless your using a BMX, or your a hipster, there is really no reason to limit yourself to one gear.

So you simply don't know how gears work? :-k

 

It's basic physics.. but here, I hope this helps. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=bike+gears

I have no understanding of them whatsoever.

Like you don't understand how to use them? That would be a fairly simple problem to fix if you know anyone with a geared bike. Just hop on it and ride around for a couple minutes and try different gears. You'll figure out what they do pretty quickly. You don't really need anymore understanding of them than that. Unless your using a BMX, or your a hipster, there is really no reason to limit yourself to one gear.

I thought about that, so I took out my bike (which I had just stuck where it felt about right) and played around a bit, think the gears are <3: but besides that it kinda made some sense.

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Tell him the truth if he seems hurted, and ask for something else. Since he is your dad if he gets to that point and sees the genuine smile on your face at that thing it should make it all up.

Ya man, just explain it to him! Obviously he wanted to get you something really nice for your 16th to show he appreciates you cause you're a good guy, and he thought Beats would be the epitome of that. I would take the following road: explain to him headphones have a very short lifespan by default, and that having such an expensive pair is a huge waste in your eyes.

 

Today I'm running on 3 hours of sleep and still cramming for my 3rd final exam in 2 days wooohoooo.

Today I'm running on 3 hours of sleep and still cramming for my 3rd final exam in 2 days wooohoooo.

Ever gone on about 9-10 hours of sleep all weekend. Then started going to school when you need to get up at around 6:30 if you want a shower. That is bad.

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Ya man, just explain it to him! Obviously he wanted to get you something really nice for your 16th to show he appreciates you cause you're a good guy, and he thought Beats would be the epitome of that. I would take the following road: explain to him headphones have a very short lifespan by default, and that having such an expensive pair is a huge waste in your eyes.

 

Today I'm running on 3 hours of sleep and still cramming for my 3rd final exam in 2 days wooohoooo.

He bought them on Ebay and they can't be returned. They've been opened so I can't resell them and advertise them as brand new.

What is it you don't like about Beats?

They're flashy overpriced pieces of shit.

They're flashy overpriced pieces of shit.

But they play music, so if you have them use them.

 

EDIT: whoops, not rob.

The problem with Beats is that they have poor construction and pretty terrible quality. They just pump up the bass to an ubsurd point and then put a $300 price tag on them because they're celebrity endorsed. You can get a better pair for a third of the cost.

The problem with Beats is that they have poor construction and pretty terrible quality. They just pump up the bass to an ubsurd point and then put a $300 price tag on them because they're celebrity endorsed. You can get a better pair for a third of the cost.

More Bass :thumbsup:

 

But seriously, I don't know much if anything about headphones. I have a pair of bose earbuds, and I am more than satisfied with them. When I am home I normally use my stereo anyway, unless I need better directional sound for a game.

I actually tried out one of those "studio" pairs of Beats just yesterday to make sure that they're as bad as I remember. Unless you're listening to rap and bass-heavy electronic music all the time, you're throwing your money away. Everything else sounds way too muddy and poorly balanced. I've 40 dollar Sennheisers that were much better. I can't believe those Beats cost like 300 dollars.

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I'm aware they're over-priced and not that great. I wanted to return them and buy a new pair of Sennhesiers but I can't seeing as they were bought from an eBay seller.

Edit: Oh my god they hurt your ears. I had to stop using them after 20 minutes because it was so uncomfortable.

 

Maybe that is the reason you see people wearing them around their necks more often than over their ears.

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