Decathlon: Our Rockrider test bike being serviced in the Decathlon workshop

In May of last year, Decathlon launched the E-MTB Rockrider E-Feel 900S was introduced. Since November, we have had the top model in the Team Edition with electronic Shimano gears and EP8 motor in a long-term test.

Not the easiest time for a full-power e-bike in the Upper Bavarian foothills of the Alps. A wild mixture of snow, mud, rain and sun as well as temperatures between -8° and +27° Celsius have accompanied my rides on the E-MTB so far.

The aim of an endurance test is to see whether and which parts cannot withstand the load and wear out (prematurely?). So far, the bike has clocked up just under 800 kilometres - with good maintenance, of course. Now, however, the bracket for the brake hose at the front of the suspension fork had gone missing; the small screw had probably come loose. In the leaves of the forest - lost for ever! In addition, one of the three plug connections to the display came loose from time to time.

So I take the one in Munich right new service from Decathlon and bring the e-bike to the shop in Unterföhring for servicing. The service centre for the eight stores in the region is located there - there has been another such centre in Hamburg since 2024, while Dortmund and Schwetzingen have had them for longer.

More shops are to follow - and, according to the company, at least minor repairs will also be carried out at the 89 "service points" in most branches. An initiative by the French sports retailer in favour of more repairs and fewer new purchases, i.e. sustainability.

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From brakes to software

I am the only one pushing a bike through the entrance to the shopping centre in the north of Munich. For most people, it's an unusual sight to bring the rather bulky Rockrider E-Feel 900 into a shop. Arriving at the service desk at Decathlon, the impression quickly fades, as there are already more bikes there.

Roheen is a master bike mechanic and is responsible for the maintenance of my test bike. He takes us in for an initial check and inspects the bike, asking about any defects or problems that have become apparent. Roheen explains: "Very simple LBS: I first check the lights, brakes and gears. During the inspection, all screws are checked and the motor is given a software update if necessary."

I tell Roheen about the two problems with my bike: the lost bracket and the plug on the display. Then he writes the order. The initial inspection costs 90 euros for e-bikes and 60 euros for non-motorised bikes.

If you want to be on the safe side and avoid waiting times, you can search for the right store via the Decathlon website and book a specific appointment for the inspection.

I then receive the order confirmation. At this point, I would normally have to say goodbye to the bike for a maximum of 45 minutes. But today I'm allowed to follow them into the workshop and watch.

Enjoy your bike for longer with maintenance and repairs

The mechanic is initially pleased that the Rockrider comes into the workshop clean and well maintained. However, the expert eye also immediately notices that although there is no dirt on the chain, I don't lubricate it often enough and the links are already dry. This accelerates the Wear and tear. I realise that, of course - then a visit to the Bicycle care products required in the shop.

Maintenance and repair are important new pillars at Decathlon. Since the beginning of the year, 2500 bikes have been serviced and repaired here in the Munich workshop alone - Julia from Decathlon's press department tells me.

In 2024, a total of over 127,000 repairs were carried out in the company's own workshops and service points to extend the service life of products. The company also offers the right tools and do-it-yourself tips - which are to be supplemented with DIY workshops in the future.

Roheen has now looked at the brake pads on my test bike and checked the wheel run-out. Now he has arrived at the bolts. He uses a torque spanner to check that they are all tightened correctly.

E-bike maintenance also includes updating the motor software

The wheel then moves from the crane to a PC terminal. There, the software is to be updated to the latest version. The computer already has the appropriate connections for the Shimano EP801 installed in the Feel 900S. But most other major manufacturers can also be plugged in here. From Bosch to Mahle, everything is included, explains Roheen. The background to this is that Decathlon doesn't just repair bikes from its own range. I can also see a Cannondale gravel bike standing next to a Cube MTB in the workshop.

The motor, controller and circuit are now up to date, and Roheen now takes care of the loose plug on the display. The experienced master quickly realises: The cable has too little play - if the handlebars are bent too much, it pulls the plug out. So no problem, the display is moved a little closer to the stem and there is no more tension on the cable! And the missing bracket for the brake hose is also back on the suspension fork.

Finally, Roheen does a test lap of the workshop on the test bike to see if everything fits. And with a recommendation on which care products and wax I should use for maintenance, I can leave the workshop with my bike after about 35 minutes. So off I go for the next 800 kilometres with the Rockrider Feel 900S - now hopefully in scorching heat rather than snow and mud.

Decathlon and the bike industry

Despite a significant decline in demand on the German bicycle market, Decathlon says it was able to increase its market share and record growth of 8 per cent. The e-bike and Leasing segment contributed significantly to this.

The team sports segment also grew by 7.5 per cent. With the already existing and two new workshops in Munich and Hamburg, which opened in 2024, Decathlon achieved growth of 16 per cent in the service sector.

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