Yvolution Velo Toddler Trike | 2022

Designer: John McGowan, Yvolve Sports Ltd. (YVOLUTION), Dublin, Ireland
Manufacturer: Yvolve Sports Ltd. (YVOLUTION), Dublin, Ireland

At YVOLUTION, the designers have been designing, manufacturing, and selling wheeled toys since 2012.

Over the years, the core principles have always been driven by the passion to create products that inspire through their innovation, provide peace of mind through their safety, and create health and happiness in the riders through wheeled play.

Summary – Velo Trike is a kids first trike, suitable for ages 18 months to 3 years. Ergonomically designed to suit hip-to-foot reach for young, pedaling legs. No-tools-needed rear wheel adjustability mechanism allows the product to transform from a wide, stable trike to a less stable balance TRAINER mode. This trainer mode doubles as a small footprint storage mode when not in use.

Form – Signature soft, curved YVOLUTION industrial design exudes safety and quality. Velo Trike encompasses YVOLUTION’s design philosophy, featuring a subtle circle theme - with soft continuous surfaces throughout the product.

Function – Velo Trike is a dual stage product, building the child’s confidence as they grow. STAGE 1 is a standard kids tricycle with direct drive pedals. This mode features a wide, stable triangle, perfect for kids new to ride-on wheeled toys. Stage 1 focuses on stability, comfort and ease of use for the young child and peace of mind for the parent. As the child grows in confidence, Velo Trike quickly transforms with the push of a button into STAGE 2 - a less stable balance TRAINER mode. In this mode, the pedals are removed and stored under the seat for convenience, and the child can develop their balance further by using the product as a ride-on walker. This mode doubles as a handy small footprint storage solution when the product is not in use.

Safety – Kids need to feel in control and parents need to be reassured their kids are safe, so Velo Trike includes a low-slung frame for young users to hop on and off the trike with ease. Audible clicks ensure pedals are secure and rear wheels are locked in their Stage 1 / Stage 2 positions. All hardware fixings such as axles and bolts are either hidden from view or sunken into the frame, preventing injury. The seat features a handle for parent control when kids are feeling a little too adventurous. The handlebar is a single piece nylon plastic injection with 0.86” diameter handgrips, specifically designed for hands in the 18 month – 3-year age range. The front wheel features a steering limiter preventing kids oversteering and destabilizing the trike.

Quality – Velo Trike features a quality, sturdy steel frame and a combination of PP and nylon components. The seat features a co-molded TPR insert for extra comfort. EVA foam wheels are non-marking and silent rolling, as well being puncture proof. Ideal for indoor and outdoor use.

Design Innovation – Tricycles generally have a short product life due to the complex ergonomic requirements of the product, and the restrictions placed on the child (standard seat, no seat adjustability, no handlebar adjustability). Too young, and the child is unable to reach the pedals. Too old, and the child is too large for the product, resulting in their knees catching the handlebar while pedaling. Extension of the life of a tricycle has been achieved through the design of a dual stage product with size unique size adjustability. Velo Trike features an extra-long seat, ergonomically designed to suit the child at age 18 months up to 3 years. At age 18 months, the seat is positioned in its lowest position, and the child intuitively finds their appropriate reach to the pedals by sitting closer to the front of the seat. As the child gets older, the seat can be raised, and the child intuitively finds their appropriate reach to the pedals by sitting closer to the back of the seat. At the same time, the handlebar can be adjusted in height to suit the most comfortable position for the child. This ensures an optimized tricycle experience for kids at any age 18 months – 3 years.