Our Story
The Story Behind the First Strider
In 2007, founder Ryan McFarland just wanted to share his passion for bikes with his 2-year-old son, Bode. Frustrated by traditional options that were too big and complicated, Ryan built a better machine. He stripped down and modified a 12-inch bike to be super light and perfectly sized, allowing Bode to put both feet on the ground. This simple, elegant solution became the very first Strider Bike.
What Ryan soon realized was that it wasn't just Bode who could benefit — kids around the world could experience the same success, adventure, and freedom. That’s when the Strider brand was born.
2007
The Garage Startup
Strider was established in Rapid City, South Dakota. Our first bikes were built from raw materials — even involving salvaged parts from department store bikes — all to achieve our goal of creating a bike that was perfectly simple and without pedals, chains, or brakes. These prototypes were the foundation for what would become our iconic 12-inch bikes, designed to be perfectly sized for toddlers.
2008
The First Dealer
We began building a parent-driven dealer network to reach more communities. Kent Jacobs, who still works at Strider today, became our first dealer in Iowa.
2009-2010
The Global Explosion
Strider takes off in Japan, which becomes the first country to host a Strider Cup race. These events drew massive crowds of young riders, proving that toddlers and bike races are awesome!
2011
Racing Comes to the US
We held our first official U.S. Strider Cup race in Sarasota, stressing about how long to make the course for tiny toddlers. It turns out, kids had more energy than we could have ever imagined! We also developed our first snow skis so the fun didn't have to stop in the winter.
2014
A Pledge to Get Everyone Riding
To show our gratitude for the community's support, we established the Strider Rider Fund, committing 1% of our gross revenue to supporting organizations that help everyone develop a lifelong love for riding.
2016
A Major Milestone
The Strider Rocking Base was released, creating a new way for children to bond with a bike from as early as six months old.
2017
The 14x Joins the Family
The Strider 14x, our transitional bike that converts from balance to pedal mode, was released. With the same confident feel and familiar features as our smaller bikes, the 14x starts in balance mode and ensures an easy transition to pedaling when each kid is ready. The pedal kit is sold separately as an optional add-on for when your rider is ready to take the next step.
2021
Bentonville Store Opens
We made a big move in 2021 by opening our first-ever Strider retail store in Bentonville, Arkansas. It's the mountain biking capital of the world, so it was the perfect place to set up shop and be closer to the community.
2022
The Strider 20x
We launched the Strider 20x to help older children and young adults with special needs experience the freedom of riding.
2024
Build Their Dream Ride
We worked on creating custom parts with unique colors, which allowed us to launch our very own Bike Builder. Now you can design a one-of-a-kind Strider bike for your little ripper.
Today
The Strider Today
We have expanded our presence to over 75 countries and sold more than 4 million bikes to families around the world. Our passion doesn't stop once a child takes their first strides; we continue to grow a community of riders through events, and to educate through partnerships with organizations that use our bikes to teach a life-changing skill. We remain true to our roots, continuing to celebrate how Strider riders across the globe break through the status quo.
