As an MTB rider, I like commuter bikes that aren’t totally limited to paved roads, and I usually don’t want to ride drop bars. This Spring I jumped on the chance to test Priority Bicycles’ Apollo Flat Bar, as it ticks those boxes. The bike has proven to be a fast, solid commuter with zero upgrades, but its off-road capability makes it a dual-purpose machine.
The Apollo Flat Bar features a custom-butted 6061 aluminum frame, a carbon fork and seatpost, Gates Carbon belt drive, and an Alfine 11-speed hub. The bike provides plenty of accessory/cargo mounts to haul your stuff, which is great for commuting or more adventurous riding. For full details and specs on the Apollo Flat Bar, check out my launch article, but below we’ll find out how the bike rides.
Priority Apollo Flat Bar – Assembly
Assembling the Apollo Flat Bar was very easy. Unboxing and building the bike took maybe 30 minutes at a casual pace. All I had to do was install the seat/seatpost, screw in the pedals, turn the stem around and install the handlebar, then bolt in the front wheel and pump up the tires. The hydraulic disc brakes are pre-bled, and the drivetrain comes fully set up.
Aside from a Phillips screwdriver I used to tighten a reflector mount, Priority includes the tools required to assemble the bike. You even get a vial of touch-up paint for the frame, but one thing that Priority doesn’t include (and perhaps should) is a bit of carbon compound for the bike’s carbon seatpost. I would also recommend applying some grease to the pedal spindles.
Beyond basic assembly, I discovered the front brake rotor was a bit bent from shipping, so I did my best to straighten it out by hand. I got it straight enough that with a repositioning of the caliper, the brake was no longer rubbing. The bike was now ready to ride!
Geometry/Fit
I am 5’10” and riding a medium frame. I find the Apollo Flat Bar’s 408mm reach (plus its stock 90mm stem) is on the longer side, and it leans me into a fairly aggressive stance. There are a few spacers under my stem, so the front end could be dropped almost an inch lower. I don’t mind this stance, even for basic commuting, as it offers a strong pedalling position. Those who prefer a more upright, casual position might want to install a shorter stem or higher rise handlebar.
The frame geometry seems to offer a good front/back balance between the wheels. With its 438mm chainstays, the bike handled flat and hilly terrain nicely with good front and rear wheel traction – and I took it up and down some steep gravel hills.
Between the Apollo Flat Bar’s 69° head tube angle and 90mm stem, the steering feels like a commuter, but it’s not too quick or twitchy, and that’s coming from a long-travel trail bike rider.
The seat tube angle is 72.5°, which is steep enough to give the bike a high-performance feel. Your riding stance winds up much closer to a road bike than a cruiser, leaving you sitting more above the pedals than behind them.
One thing to note is the Apollo Flat Bar’s top tube is nearly horizontal, and its 29” standover height is fairly high to swing a leg over. As an able-bodied rider, I’m OK with this, but those who have issues with mounting a bike might find it problematic. I have scuffed the Apollo’s frame due to hitting my foot on the top tube while mounting.
Ride Impressions – Commuting
My day job is now close to home, so I’ve been riding the Apollo Flat Bar to work since April, plus visiting friends, running errands, etc. At 24.85 lbs, this bike isn’t amazingly light, but compared to my 36.5 lbs MTB it feels pretty swift! The road-friendly tires roll fast, and I think 40mm is an ideal stock width for this bike’s intentions. The Apollo Flat Bar carries along nicely on paved surfaces, but the tires can handle gravel, dirt, or grassy pathways too.
The 11-speed Alfine hub’s gear range is definitely ample for commuting unless you have very steep hills to climb. On the high end, the hub offers tall gearing and even on flat terrain I rarely found myself shifting above the 7th gear. I doubt anyone would complain about topping out the gears on this bike.
On the low end, the hub does find its limit on steep hills. I rode up my local test hill, which is pretty steep but nothing crazy, and I was using the lowest gear. Thankfully, the bike’s fast-rolling tires and reasonable weight make it easy to haul uphill. Unless you live somewhere like San Francisco, you should do fine with the Apollo Flat Bar’s gear range for commuting.
Commuters who ride to work in uniform will appreciate the lack of grease or oil on the Gates belt drivetrain. I do this, and it is nice not worrying about ruining your work pants!
The Tektro hydraulic disc brakes are easily strong enough for commuting, and they work well in all weather conditions. I do find the moderately swept back handlebars comfortable for cruising or commuting, and the ergonomic grips support the bottom sections of your palms nicely.
To fulfill commuting duties, the Apollo features mounts for fenders, cargo racks, water bottles and accessories. The top tube, seat mast, down tube and fork legs all have two or three bolt accessory mounts, and the front triangle offers plenty of room.
If you’re eyeing this bike as a commuter, I doubt there’s anything you’d want to upgrade. Fenders, racks, or cargo bags would make nice additions if needed, but everything included on the stock bike should handle years of commuter rides. Right out of the box, it would be a great choice for someone who wants a low-maintenance, speedy commuter that offers a sporty riding position.
Gravel Riding
Starting minutes from my house is an awesome gravel trail called the Sea-To-Sky Trail. This trail winds through 8000+ foot tall mountains, so there are some surprisingly steep hills along the way.
I was hoping the Apollo Flat Bar would be the ideal bike to explore this trail, but unfortunately the Alfine hub’s 409% gear range proved a bit limiting on the low end. Initially I was curious about making upgrades so the Apollo would be better for gravel/adventure rides, but given how hilly the Sea-To-Sky trail is, I don’t think I’ll go ahead with that.
One day, I rode a section of the trail, and while I completed the ride, I was wishing for lower gears. On most uphill sections I rode in the bike’s lowest gear, and on the steepest pitches I would have been happier with lower options. Throughout the entire ride I rarely shifted up beyond the 4th or 5th gear.
Another day I attempted a different part of the trail, but soon gave up. This section climbs quite sharply, and the Apollo’s gearing does not go low enough to ride it comfortably. By comparison, I would climb this trail in the 2nd cog on my MTB, and the Apollo’s lowest gear is roughly equivalent to a 12-speed cassette’s 4th cog.
Given my local terrain, I wish I could trade the Alfine hub’s highest gear(s) for one or two more on the low end. This would make the Apollo far more capable for hilly gravel trails or more adventurous rides, and as stated earlier, I never even used the highest gears on road rides. On a bike with a chain drive, you could probably figure out a way to run a smaller chainring, but the belt drive makes that more complicated. Even if you could fit a smaller front sprocket on the crank (not sure if that’s possible due to the BCD of the crank arms), you would likely need a shorter belt to take up the slack.
The other issue I had on hilly terrain was the brakes. While fine for commuting, I found the Tektro two-piston brakes didn’t offer ample stopping power for steep or sustained descents. I was squeezing and dragging the brakes more than I’d like to stay in control, as they struggle to lock up a wheel.
On the gravel trail I did surprisingly well with the stock tires, but a pair with more tread and volume would be ideal if you plan to ride this bike off-road often.
Now, as long as you don’t have steep hills in your area, I do think the Apollo Flat Bar would be a great bike to start into gravel riding or do some adventuring with. It can easily handle some bumpy terrain, and the riding position is appropriate for spirited rides. A few part swaps could make the Apollo Flat Bar a very fun gravel explorer; Metal pedals, grippier tires, an MTB handlebar and stem (70mm perhaps?), and a stronger set of brakes would turn this bike into a more capable off-roader. If you live in mellower terrain, I think the Apollo offers a solid platform that’s worthy of such upgrades.
Components:
Finally, here are some further notes on components. The Apollo Flat Bar’s carbon fork and seatpost are nice touches, as both help reduce vibrations from roads or off-road terrain.
This is the first Shimano Alfine hub I’ve ridden, and I was impressed with its shifting. The Apollo Flat Bar comes with a trigger shifter, which I much prefer over grip shift; its shifts are crisp, quick, and it’s obvious when the hub has engaged a gear. Gears should be shifted while you’re not pedalling or when you’re under light pedalling loads, and this shifter/hub combo handles both well.
This is the fourth Gates-equipped Priority bike I’ve ridden, and I am yet to have any belt-related issues. The belts are smooth, quiet, and clean, and shouldn’t require any maintenance until they’ve seen years of mileage. I like Priority’s dropout design, which splits apart to allow for belt removal but goes nearly unnoticed.
The WTB Byway 700x40c tires offer a multisurface but road-friendly tread with a smooth center and small side lugs. These tires were great for commuting, as they roll fast on pavement. Those planning to ride more off-road terrain might want something larger and grippier. Priority says the Apollo Flat Bar can run up to 700x53c tires, but the frame and fork are also compatible with 650b wheels, opening up more off-road capable options.
WTB’s KOM Team i23 rims are holding up fairly well. Both wheels have slight side wobbles, but nothing that a quick re-tensioning wouldn’t fix. Neither rim has any dents, flat spots, or hops.
Again, the handlebars and grips are perfectly suitable for commuter use, but I wouldn’t get too aggressive on off-road terrain with them. I’d have trust issues riding roughly with a no-name 90mm stem, and if I swapped it out I’d pair an MTB handlebar and non-ergonomic grips with it.
My butt gives the WTB Volt saddle ‘two cheeks’ of approval. I’m glad Priority didn’t go with a super slim road saddle, as the Volt is comfortable enough for off-road riding.
The Apollo Flat Bar’s stock plastic pedals aren’t amazing, but they’re fine for commuting. This is a likely touch-point upgrade for gravel/performance-minded riders, and luckily the spindles are 9/16ths so they can be easily upgraded.
Priority Bicycles’ Apollo Flat Bar sells for $1,799. Frame sizes S/M/L/XL are available, in one ‘Deep Space’ colorway. Visit Priority’s website for complete details.