Meet the Dad Whose Garage Passion Project Turned into a Global Balance Bike Movement

People often say that a father becomes his son’s first hero. For Ryan McFarland, founder of Strider Bikes, this perspective turned a garage passion project into a global movement.

Ryan always felt deeply connected to riding anything on two wheels — from mountain bikes to motorcycles and more — thanks to his own dad, Joe. In their South Dakota town, Ryan remembers Joe being the hero dad of the neighborhood, bringing all the kids into various adventures like riding in a sled attached to his motorcycle. That passion for adventure led Ryan to his own two-wheeled adventures at a very young age. By 5 years old, he was riding his own motorcycle with help from Joe, who made the proper adjustments in his garage so the bike would fit young Ryan’s frame.

When Ryan became a dad himself, he found his passion for adventure was reinvigorated. When Ryan’s child, Bode, was just 2 years old, Ryan felt the pull to become the same inspiration his dad was. 

“About the same time Bode was born, I got this new dirt bike and just felt like, ‘Hey I need to reconnect with this,’” said Ryan. “When I did that, I just fell in love with it again. So much of my childhood came rushing back after this hiatus as I tried to do adult things. That happening simultaneously with having this little boy just really made that connection. It was ‘Oh my gosh, I want to share this with him.’” 

Ryan wanted to pass down his family’s love for riding to the next generation. Unfortunately, the traditional ride-on toys meant for 2-year-olds weren’t working for Bode. Luckily, Ryan had always enjoyed an innate mechanical acumen. Channeling his dad’s engineering skills, Ryan bought a little pedal bike and started making custom modifications. Before long, the McFarlands had a homemade balance bike that became Bode’s pride and joy, not to mention an essential toy that went with them everywhere. That first bike, it turned out, was just the beginning.

Ryan’s desire to create a solution for his then-2-year-old son quickly became the blueprint for building an entire brand with heart and purpose. The brand’s simple mission statement — “we love inspiring kids to ride” — has taken Strider from one little bike in the McFarlands’ garage to the global leader in balance bikes with over 4 million bikes sold across 75+ countries. Central to that growth is Ryan’s steadfast belief that “to inspire a little kid, fun is the only currency of any value.” It’s why Ryan has combined his cycling, parenting, and engineering know-how to prioritize building bikes that put the experience of the child and caregivers first. It’s why Strider Bikes are built with specific features, like foam tires that require no maintenance, and make their bikes lighter for kids to handle easily. Every product decision in Strider’s 17 years has been driven by that singular focus, which has earned the brand the trust of parents worldwide. 

As the bike business grew, Ryan sought to use Strider’s profits to expand the brand’s mission even further. Through the Strider Rider Fund, the company sets aside 1% of all revenue each year to a series of programs and initiatives that further the brand’s mission to teach all kids how to ride. For example, Strider supports programs that teach kindergarten students to ride bikes as part of their physical education (PE) classes, providing carefully written curriculums and assisting schools in accessing bikes. This program supports over 1,500 schools, teaching bike riding to nearly 150,000 students yearly.

Strider’s initiatives didn’t end with school systems. Recognizing that children with disabilities should have the same chance to ride, Strider expanded its mission to inclusivity and accessibility. Through the Adaptive Strider Program, children with height and limb differences can have bikes customized for their needs. When families with differently-abled kids purchase any Strider 12” Balance Bike, the brand makes the modifications necessary for their child to ride.

Looking ahead, Ryan hopes to build an even bigger community of riders and families to celebrate the joy of bike riding. Showcasing itself as a guiding “North Star” among young bikers, Ryan’s journey with Strider proves that even the smallest projects can become global movements. It simply takes love, passion, and resilience to get the wheels spinning.

BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.