Gear fault

Question
When i first get on the bike to pedal the pedals free wheel as if it is not selecting gears it doesn't matter what gear i select it is like the pedal just free wheels and then after a while it will engage the gears.It does this all the time when i want to go for a ride. This is a 21 speed Appolo mens bike

Answer
Ron,

I haven't heard of an Appolo bike, but chances are good it has a Shimano drivetrain.  Assuming your chain is actually engaging the gears that you select and not slipping across the tops of them without dropping into the chain teeth, then your problem is simple: The ratchet pawls (teeth inside the hub that click like a socket wrench and lock the wheel to the gears when you pedal) in the hub are not working properly.  The culprit is probably the spring that forces them outwards to engage the outside teeth in the hub.  This should be a simple thing to fix - for a bike shop.  I definitely recommend against you trying this yourself, because you may need a couple of specialized tools and your hub may use loose bearings, which can be a pain to adjust.  Not to mention the inside is a messy high-grease area.  Definitely not a repair to cut your teeth on.

On the other hand, if the chain is slipping across the tops of the gears, then you may need adjustment, a new chain or new gears.  However, that is a fairly rare occurrence.

All of this assumes you are talking about the rear gears or cogs.  Let me know if you are talking about the front chainrings.

Graeme