A gravel bike that cost up to $2,300 at REI may need a free repair before its next ride. Decathlon America is recalling about 1,150 Van Rysel GRVL AF bicycles because the front wheel can come loose, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice dated Oct. 8, 2026. The fix is free, and REI stores are where owners take the bike.

What can go wrong with the fork

The problem is the lock nut on the front wheel. The recall says it can loosen during use, and that the front wheel can then come loose. The federal notice names the danger as a crash with a risk of serious injury or death. A front wheel that works free while a rider is moving, particularly downhill or on a rough gravel road, can throw the rider over the bars.

No injuries or incidents had been reported when the recall was announced, Bicycle Retailer reported. Recalls like this one are issued before anyone is hurt, which is the point of acting now.

The repair is on the fork assembly, the pair of tubes that hold the front wheel. The remedy is a free inspection and repair of the fork at an REI Co-op store. The notice describes the hazard as a loose lock nut, and the trade report notes that it does not explain why the fix is on the fork as a whole. The repair itself is done by the store.

Which Van Rysel bikes are covered

Four models are listed, each with a model number. They are the Sword brown (8911304), the Apex beige (8911305), the Sword pink (8911308) and the GRVL AF GRX black (8929130). All frame sizes are included, from extra-small through extra-large.

This recall counts about 1,150 bikes priced from $1,400 to $2,300, and each new federal recall carries its own unit count and price range.

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Not every Van Rysel bike counts. Only bikes with certain product IDs are covered, and the full list is on the federal recall page. Owners can find the model name and product ID on the barcode sticker on the frame near the bottom bracket. The product ID is also printed at the top right of the label under the frame, and it begins with the number 5.

The bikes are described as made for gravel riding, road cycling, commuting and bikepacking. The recall says they were sold at REI Co-op stores nationwide and on REI.com from March 2025 through August 2026, for about $1,400 to $2,300.

How to get the free repair

The remedy runs through REI. An owner takes the bike to the nearest REI Co-op, where the fork gets an inspection and repair at no cost. The trade report says anyone who cannot get to a store can contact Decathlon customer service at [email protected]. No phone number was listed in that report.

Until the repair is done, a rider should treat the bike with caution, since a loose lock nut gives little warning. The federal notice is the place to confirm its exact instructions to owners.

The repair does not cost the owner a refund or a replacement, and the notice does not offer one. The remedy is the inspection and fix. The notice also does not say how long the repair takes, and that can vary by store.

What the price range tells owners

The spread from $1,400 to $2,300 covers different builds of the same bike. The notice does not break out which model sold at which price. An owner who is not sure whether a bike is a GRVL AF can check the frame decal and the label under the frame.

The recall describes where the bikes were sold, not who owns them now, so the model and product ID are the test. The notice does not say whether REI asks for proof of purchase, so it is worth bringing any receipt or order email.

Why recalls like this get missed

Recalls on bikes depend on owners hearing about them. The notice says the bikes were sold through REI stores and REI.com, and a rider who got the bike as a gift or bought it from a friend may never get a message.

Older riders who bought a gravel bike for road and trail use may not follow cycling news, and a recall posted on a federal site can go unseen. The commission posts recalls every week, and each lists a unit count, the stores that sold the product and the remedy.

Checking a Van Rysel bike this week

The free first step is the commission’s recall page, which lists the full set of product IDs. Flip the bike over or look near the bottom bracket for the barcode sticker, and compare the model name and product ID against the list. The page also links the company’s recall poster.

If the bike matches, call or visit the nearest REI Co-op before riding again. Bring the bike, the model name and any receipt or order email. Owners who cannot reach a store can write to Decathlon customer service at the address in the notice.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall page remains the place where any change to the model list or the remedy would be posted, so a second look in a few weeks is worthwhile for anyone who has not yet been able to schedule the repair.

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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.