Our Story

MacDonald Cycles was founded in 1922 by
Alexander MacDonald.
We are family owned and run, by cyclists and for cyclists.
We are one of Ireland's longest etsablished bike shops.

Our first store opened on Bride Street in Dublin's Liberties in 1922.
Later we moved close by to Aungier Street and then to Wexford Street in the 1950's.
In the early 1980's MacDonald Cycles Ballinteer was opened at Ballinteer Shopping Centre.

Alec junior began his journey into the world of bikes there.
Alec brought many new ideas to our business and also to Ireland, due in part
to his passion for bikes, motorcycles and the outdoors.

Alec sold the first mountain bikes in Ireland back in the 1980's, the first BMX bikes,
the first LED bike lights by Cateye, the first Mag wheels and also
Raleigh's ground breaking "Rain-check" brake blocks.


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MacDonald Cycles Ballinteer, is also where I the tyre pumper, teamaker, mechanic and now
web designer of MacDonald Cycles, entered the world of bikes.
I hung around the shop as a boy dreaming about a beautiful blue Legano racer.
I must have taken that bike from the display at least 20 times to look at it, but could not afford to buy it.
After a few months, Alec offered me a Saturday job and I have been with the team since then.


We opened our Rathgar store on Orwell Road in 1993.


Alexander was a keen cyclist and rode his bike to work from Dundrum daily, be there hail, rain or snow.

His sons Kenneth (Ken) and Alexander (Alec) took the reins after their Dad's retirement.


"Looks like a cold one there Alec, better put the kettle on."


In the year 2000, Alec sold our first electric bike, long before any other bike store had even heard of an
electric bike, kick starting (pardon the pun), a whole new world of cycling.

The bike was a bit of a tank by modern standards, but it sure was an exciting development.
Today's e-bikes are much lighter and have a lot more power, battery capacity and most importantly, much better brakes.

Today we are Ireland's longest established bicycle and e-bike shop.

Ken MacDonald, a keen footballer and now golfer, served Dublin's cyclists by repairing hundreds of thousands of bikes,
pumping countless tyres and spreading the love of cycling and Dublin city center wit,
until April 2018 at our landmark store on Wexford Street in Dublin 2.


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We moved our all of business to our Rathgar, Dublin south store after Ken's retirement.
Ken has recently rejoined the old team and is helping again to keep cyclists moving.
Today Alec and Ken MacDonald are still flying our flag at our bike shop in Rathgar.


Photograph by Graham "Flash" Mulhall - Flowers by The Flower Bowl, Rathgar.


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Bicycles have changed a lot through the years.

Many technological advancements have been made to bikes and accessories since we began our journey,
such as the use of aluminium alloys and carbon fiber for wheels and frames, the invention of
V-brakes and LED lights, to name but a few.
Today we have electric bikes with hydraulic disc brakes and onboard computer systems.

We have kept up with the times.
Our staff have travelled overseas to complete accredited training courses.

Modern bicycles and espcially electric bikes, are complicated machines.
E-bikes have more in common with motorbikes than they do with regular bicycles.
That is why it is essential to place your bike in qualified hands for servicing and repair.


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We are Accredited Raleigh, Haibike and Bosch agents.

This means that our mechanics have completed official manufacturers training courses
in electric bike repair and servicing.



Accredited Raleigh and Haibike Agent
Bosch Accredited Service Centre


After 98 years of serving cyclists we still love what we do.
Thank you to all who have passed through our doors.
Kindest wishes from all of us at MacDonald Cycles.