Jun 23rd 2026
Strider Bikes Celebrates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Balance
This is Western South Dakota, where the American spirit still thrives. Traditional homesteads and modern businesses breathe in tandem. From a garage in Rapid City to millions of garages worldwide, this is our story.
The Start
Originally from Custer, South Dakota, Ryan McFarland developed a passion for bikes as he spent time outdoors in the Black Hills. Rich with two-lane roads winding through pine trees, granite, and history, and singletrack trails flooded with wildflowers, wildlife, and sunshine beaming through the trees, the Black Hills of South Dakota provide an experience that can’t be found in any other place. The freedom of meandering through herds of elk on a motorcycle and being chased by bluebirds on a mountain bike is a kind of liberty that can’t be described — only felt.
In 2007, Ryan was trying to figure out how to pass this feeling down to his son, Bode. Ryan knew that being on a bike of any kind would bring this passion to life for Bode too, but Bode’s bike was holding him back from independence. The bike was heavy and difficult to maneuver, and the training wheels caught on the obstacles that were inciting frustration instead of accomplishment. So, Ryan stripped the bike down. No training wheels, no pedals, nothing complicated — so simple a 2-year-old could use it and truly understand it.
In Ryan’s garage, the first Strider balance bike was born. Ryan saw that this simplistic model gave Bode the freedom to ride down the driveway and on dirt. His training wheels weren’t getting caught on tree roots and Bode was learning balance and counter steering techniques that were teaching him how to ride a mountain bike someday soon. Ryan quickly realized that if it worked for Bode, it would work for children everywhere. He knew he had to make sure it wasn’t just his own child that could learn to ride and experience the independence, pride, and freedom that comes from exploration.
Building a Business
Over the next two decades, Ryan built Strider from the ground up. He and his small team perfected the geometry of the Strider balance bike, making it lightweight with a low center of gravity so toddlers could maneuver the bike easily. They patented their design and hit the market in 2008, securing their first dealer in Iowa. Strider took off in Japan in 2009 and 2010, and Ryan went from selling balance bikes across the Midwest to impacting childhoods across the globe.
As the company grew, Ryan moved the business from his garage to a warehouse in Rapid City, and then to another larger warehouse in the same corner of town. Of course, getting kids on bikes was and is Strider’s top priority, but as the owner of a small business in a largely rural area, Ryan also prioritized creating local jobs and hiring local talent to fill those positions, providing opportunities for American families. As Strider grew from a garage and founder to a warehouse and office with about 30 employees, so did the Strider’s local and global impact. From sponsoring local events to donating bikes to orphanages in Central America, the way kids learned to ride bikes in America and far beyond was changed forever. And that’s the story of how a small-town business that started in a garage in South Dakota sold over 4 million bikes in 75 countries, bringing balance, confidence and independence to toddlers across the world.
American Values
That’s how our story started, but it certainly doesn’t end there. Strider continues to implement policies internally that reflect our fundamental values like helping others, supporting families, and honoring the sacrifices of those who served the United States of America. Every year, Strider employees are provided with a paid day off called an “Advocacy Day”, where personnel volunteer for a cause of their choice. This allows Strider employees to use their individual talents to help their neighbors and serve the community. With half days on Fridays and events like the annual Strider Cup World Championship, family time is encouraged and celebrated. And if you’ve ever visited our Rapid City headquarters, you probably noticed our American flag flying high above the building. Every Flag Day, the flag is lowered, folded, and then hung inside the warehouse, as a reminder of the freedom and opportunity that come from living and working in the United States.
Outside of the building, Strider carries out our values of supporting children, encouraging families, and enjoying the outdoors. At events like the Strider Cup World Championship, Strider employees check bikes and hand out high-fives, helping kids feel welcomed, excited, and ready to leave it all on the racetrack. Strider also has an in-house customer support team that answers the phone when parents need help, walking parents through ordering parts, making repairs, or even offering advice to help parents navigate their child’s learn-to-ride journey. And, because we love our lunch-break bike rides, we encourage kids and families to spend time outside too. From backyard tracks to national parks, Strider is proud to be a part of so many childhood adventures across our beautiful country and beyond.
So, to us, the "City of Presidents" is more than a town with presidential statues and proximity to Mount Rushmore. It’s our home — where traditional ranches blend with modern ingenuity, and where our very own American dream started and prospered. Now, we get to share our passion for getting kids on bikes and outside with millions across the globe, giving as many families as possible a way to enjoy their own towns and trails.