How Mac Ride Started
Mac Ride began in Scotland in 2012 when founders Glen Dobson and Ashley Howard saw a gap in the market. The child bike seats available at the time were awkward modifications of car seats, clunky and uncomfortable for both parents and children. Glen, a local mountain biker, and Ashley, a Canadian exchange student who met at university, decided to reengineer the category from their garage. What started as a prototype has grown into a carefully designed product line informed by a community of riders who use Mac Ride seats on trails and city streets alike. The brand continues to innovate, recently introducing an infant bike seat version and working toward a modular system that lets parents adapt their gear as children grow.
What Mac Ride Sells
Mac Ride's catalog centers on child bike seats and related accessories, with options spanning different riding styles and ages. The main product—the child bike seat—is designed for ages 2–5 and engineered to handle mountain biking as well as casual riding. The brand also offers an infant bike seat for younger riders, e-bike adapters to fit electric bikes, and tow ropes for trail use. A range of spare parts, spacers, gloves, and extras rounds out the store, giving riders options to customize or maintain their setup. The modular approach means you can upgrade components as your child grows rather than replacing the entire seat. Prices range from budget accessories under USD 10 to complete setups approaching USD 359, so there's an entry point for various budgets and commitment levels.
Price Range and Value
Mac Ride products span a broad price spectrum—from small add-ons and spare parts in the single digits to premium complete systems over USD 300. Most shoppers will find core child bike seats in the mid-range, with gloves, spacers, and rope accessories filling gaps at lower costs. The modular design philosophy means you're not locked into buying everything at once; you can start with a base seat and add pieces over time. This approach appeals to families who want to invest gradually or those upgrading from an infant seat to a toddler seat without replacing the entire mount.
How to Shop Mac Ride
Start by identifying which seat type fits your child's age and your bike type—the main child seat handles ages 2–5, while the infant seat covers younger riders. If you ride an e-bike, check that an e-bike adapter is available for your model before adding a seat to your cart. Browse spare parts and accessories to see what might enhance your setup, such as gloves for child safety or a tow rope for trail work. All purchases are made directly on the Mac Ride website, and the modular system means your investment can grow with your child over several years.
Common questions
What ages does Mac Ride serve?
Mac Ride makes a child bike seat for ages 2–5 and a dedicated infant bike seat for younger riders. The modular system is designed so you can transition from the infant seat to the child seat without replacing your entire mount.
Do Mac Ride seats work on e-bikes?
Yes. Mac Ride offers e-bike adapters to fit electric bikes. Check product details for your specific e-bike model before purchasing to ensure compatibility with the seat and adapter.