LittleBig Bike Review

In the past, kids started out with the aforementioned tricycles and then progressed to small two-wheeled bikes with stabilizers or training wheels on them. As their balance got better, those training wheels were raised up slightly, and then more so, until they could be taken off. Thanks to the LittleBig Bike, these introductory stages are skipped over. Kids learn to balance on two wheels right away.

The bike comes with all the tools you will need to assemble the bike and convert it from a balance bike to a pedal bike. There is a wrench for the rear bolt-on axle and properly sized hex keys. When in its balance bike configuration, a plastic dust cover can be placed over the rear chain ring.

These helpful videos were created by LittleBig Bikes. They take you though the assembly of the bike and how to go through its configurations.

The LittleBig Bike comes already set up for kids ages two and three. This is the balance bike stage. There are no pedals and there are no stabilizers either. Instead, your child uses their feet, which should be flat on the ground when they are in the bicycle’s seat, in order to propel themselves forward. While it’s common for kids of this age to use their feet as the brakes, which works just fine, because they won’t be able to move at a high rate of speed, the LittleBig Balance Bike actually comes with front and rear hand brakes. The creator of the bike, the LittleBig Company, believes that kids this age can learn to use hand brakes fairly easily. And, it’s true! One of our test riders had never used hand brakes before. With a little instruction from his dad, the little ripper was braking safely and evenly.

Once your child gets taller, it’s time for the second stage of the bike. This is also a balance bike stage, but it’s set up for slightly older kids, usually those age four and five. The back section of the frame is one of the ingenious ways in which the bike grows with your child. All that you need to do is flip that back part of the frame and move the seat to the (new) top section. This provides more vertical height and pushes the seat back slightly so that there’s a longer reach for the handlebars.

Finally, when your child is ready for something even more advanced, pedals, the bike easily converts to accommodate them. There’s a separate pedal and crank assembly that can be attached to the bike. You don’t even need to break the chain! Since the hand brakes are already included, you just have to add this one section and then your child has a mini mountain bike that they can use to cruise along the trails.

Because the LittleBig Bike changes sizes with your child, there are three different sets of specs for it. Firstly, the minimum saddle height for  stage one is 14 inches. Secondly, the minimum saddle height for stage two is 18 inches.  Finally, the minimum seat hight for stage 3 is 19.5 inches.

The maximum saddle height is at 18 inches in stage one, and then 22 inches for stages two and three. Another important measurement is the wheelbase. It’s at 27.5 inches in stage one. Stages two and three are the same here – 26.8 inches.

Wheels on the bike are sized at 14″ and the bike weighs 11.25lbs as a balance bike and 14.55lbs set-up as a pedal bike.

The LittleBig Bike is available with or without the additional pedal and crank attachment. You can also buy that attachment separately. You also have your choice of bright colors, including flame red, apple green, electric blue, and sparkle pink. The company even sells helmets on their website to match (or not match) your kid’s next bike.

Lovingly designed and hand-assembled in Ireland, the LittleBig Bike company does their part to ensure your young riders get off on the right foot when they become a part of your #mtbfamily.

All our riders enjoyed the bike because it put them in control right from the start. Each mode of the bike was suited to each riders’ abilities.

We did our best to get one young lad to pedal on his own for the first time, but the pedaling was just not happening during this show-and-go impromptu session. There is absolutely no pressure with this bike though! We just converted it back to a balance bike and the young ‘un enjoyed riding the bike up and down the sidewalk.

If you want to pass your love of mountain biking on to your children, then do your best to start them off at an early age. The LittleBig Bike is an excellent option for learning the initial skill-set that a child will build on for years to come. You won’t have to worry about buying a new bicycle every year since this one will grow along with them. Above all, these bikes are designed to last. When your children outgrow the Big Pedal bike, you can easily resell it or hand it off to another young rider.

Obviously, when WIRED labels your invention as “genius”, you’re in pretty good shape. Ireland’s Simon Evans has come up with a kid’s bike that that is superbly functional, and good looking. Certainly, it would make Artemis Fowl green with envy. The design of the bike allows it to be enjoyed for multiple years by the same rider who will grow several inches. At any rate, as parents of a growing pre-teen and high schooler we hope Mr. Evans’ next endeavor will be applying his learnings to larger bikes.