The Freedom Concepts Discovery Series of Adaptive Tricycles is designed for children with special needs who have mild to significant physical impairments. These bikes are as suitable for riders with simple balance challenges as they are for riders who have more complex issues associated with diagnoses such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury, Muscular Dystrophy, Autism, and Dwarfism.
Adaptive bikes are powerful therapy tools that help improve a rider’s strength, endurance, and coordination while serving as an extremely effective tool for promoting social inclusion. The basic features of the Discovery Series make it easier for riders to begin to pedal and steer on their own. Multiple Quick-Release levers make most adjustments fast and tool-free, while the low step-through height combined with handlebars that swing out of the way facilitate safe, unobstructed transfers. The adjustments needed for the growth of one rider—or to fit multiple riders in clinical or school settings—are effortless, and the bike comes with its own multi-tool for any non-quick-release adjustments.
This page will help guide you through the process of ordering the DCP Mini.
Determining Size & Fit: The Inseam Measurement
The critical measurement for determining the correct size of a Discovery tricycle is the Inseam Measurement—the distance from the bottom of the rider’s heel to the top of their inner thigh while seated.
- Target Age Range: 18 months to 3.5 years
- Inseam Range: 8 in. – 16 in.
The DCP Mini is specifically engineered for the smallest riders, offering a fun, motivating way to keep them striving toward their therapy goals. Because it easily adjusts to grow with a single child or adapt to multiple children, it is a hugely popular choice for schools, homes, and pediatric therapy clinics alike.
Step-by-Step Ordering Guide
Freedom Concepts has simplified their options to make creating the perfect tricycle simple and intuitive. Follow these step-by-step choices to build a tricycle tailored to your rider's specific support needs:
Step 1: Frame Color
Select from a wide variety of bright, vibrant frame color choices to personalize the bike for your rider.
Step 2: Seating System Size
Choose the seating setup based on your child's measurements:
- Mini Seating System: Mini Seat (10"W x 9"D) with Mini High-Back (12.5"W x 13"H).
- Child Seating System: Child Seat (12.5"W x 12.5"D) with Child High-Back (13"W x 18"H).
(Note: All seating choices come standard with an adjustable lap belt and adjustable chest strap, both featuring quick side-release buckles).
Step 3: Chest Harness (Optional)
- Chest Harness [Yes / No]: Select Yes to add a full chest harness in addition to the standard adjustable chest strap. The 4-Point Chest Harness is perfect for providing full anterior upper body support. The butterfly design helps the rider maintain a well aligned upright position. Because their posture is stabilized, the rider will be able to focus their efforts on pedaling the tricycle.
Step 4: Headrest with Support Cushion (Optional)
- Headrest with Support Cushion [Yes / No]: Select Yes to add a headrest that extends the backrest height by 7 inches for complete upper body support. Includes an adjustable headrest with a supportive occiput cushion attached via Velcro, allowing easy height adjustments or removal for custom head and neck positioning.
Step 5: Frame Tilt Adjustments (Optional)
- Front Fork Selection: Choose between the Standard Rigid Fork or the Adjustable Tilt Fork. The Adjustable Tilt Fork features Freedom Concepts' unique design with 6 inches of adjustment range, providing up to 10° of variable frame tilt. Tilting the entire bike frame—rather than just the seat—maintains the rider's optimal pedaling position while reducing hip flexion, relieving spinal load, and aiding riders with limited trunk control, spasticity, need for pressure redistribution or fatigue. This feature also aides riders with orthostatic intolerance and discomfort in upright positions.
Step 6: Pedals & Footplates
- Standard Mountain Bike Pedals with Toe Cages: Recommended for riders with basic foot control or high muscle tone who tend to push down through their toes.
- Neoprene Adjustable Footplates: Features a flexible neoprene heel cup, a buckle ankle strap, and a Velcro foot strap. Maintains continuous pedal placement; ideal for children with low muscle tone.
- Molded (Rigid) Footplates with Ratchet Straps: Provides maximum support for riders whose feet pull away from the pedal or experience severe plantar flexion (toe-pointing). Includes a rigid plastic heel cup with heavy-duty ratchet straps across the ankle and foot.
- Optional Pedal Pulley Strings: Can be added to any footplate selection to assist with leveling. Front pulleys assist children who point their toes (plantar flexion) to keep the pedal flat during pedaling.
Step 7: Propulsion & Gearing
- Direct Drive (Standard): Creates a direct relationship between pedal rotation and wheel movement—pedal forward to go forward, pedal backward to go backward. If a caregiver pushes the bike, the pedals gently turn to encourage reciprocal leg motion and teach cause-and-effect.
- On/Off Pin Reciprocator: Offers both Direct Drive and Free Wheel capabilities! Keep the pin in for Direct Drive, or pull the pin out to switch into Free Wheel (Coasting) Mode, allowing the child to rest their legs while a caregiver pushes the bike forward.
Step 8: Caregiver Rear Steering (Optional)
- Rear Steering Handle [Yes / No]: Select Yes to add a rear steering handle that enables parents, caregivers, or therapists to guide and control steering from behind. Allows full directional control while the rider practices pedaling, promoting safe engagement and easy assistance during use.
Step 9: Chainguard & Decal Package
- Chainguard Selection: Choose between the standard Heavy-Duty Steel Chainguard or upgrade to the Enclosed ABS Plastic Chainguard for complete chain coverage and added protection against snagging.
- Decal Package: Select your preferred graphic decal package to customize and complement your tricycle's frame color.
Designed specifically for toddlers and young children, the Freedom Concepts DCP Mini provides the perfect balance of therapeutic support, safety, and fun. With its highly adjustable positioning options and easy-to-customize features, this adaptive tricycle empowers young riders to build leg strength, improve coordination, and experience the joy of independent mobility.
