2008.10.14 Fall 2008 Cal Poly Alumni E-Newsletter
From Thesis to New Venture: The Berserker Story. Many of you who have visited campus recently
know Adam Stephens, who got an MS degree in the program a year ago......Adam has always been interested in off-road cycling. For personal reasons, he developed a passion for designing and fabricating an off-road trike that enables people with minor disabilities to have a somewhat more stable platform to attack mountain trails. During 2006-2007 Adam developed the design, fabricated the trike, field-tested it, and tweaked the design. During the 2007-2008 academic year there were further design modifications, and considerable media attention.....
2008.07.01 Summer 2008 Cal Poly Magazine - Hot Shot
ADAM Stephens Conquers the Hills with Innovative Trike: ADAM STEPHENS' OUTLOOK on a favorite pastime changed one day along the slopes of California's Mt. Diablo. That's when the Cal Poly industrial technology professor accidentally plunged his mountain bike off a l2-foot vertical drop, shearing offhis bike's front fork and pulverizing the rear - leaving him splayed on the ground, writhing in pain. Stephens was afraid he would never ride a mountain bike again, at least not in comfort, due to a slipped spinal disk.....Two years ago, Stephens began developing a bike designed specifically for back pain sufferers: "The Berserkeri' a recumbent, off-road tricycle that minimizes prostate and back pain, as well as palm and foot numbness. "The bike makes you feel like you're almost floating above the terraini' Stephens says. Suspension systems on each wheel absorb shock and prevent body pain, while larger-than-average wheels allow the bike to roll over big objects.....
2008.02.25 San Louis Obispo County News
2008.02.15 KSBY Action News
A new offroad trike is put to the test. The
tricycle is so easy to use, even our own Rob Carlmark put the pedal to
the pavement, helping test the prototype at Cal Poly in San Luis
Obispo. The tricycle was designed by a Cal Poly instructor
and graduate students to help people with back problems ride more
comfortably downhill on mountain trails. "It is for anybody
that wants to have fun, drop it down something, mob it down stairs, or
come across any obstacles that come their way," Adam Stephens, Cal Poly
instructor.....
2008.02.14 Orfalea Business College & Alumni Magazine - Spring 2008
Industrial Technology Students Travel Off-Road: A Cal Poly Industrial Technology Instructor and graduate students of the Orfalea College of Business began testing the riding comfort of a newly developed off-road tricycle around campus.....The "Berserker" Trike sports two front wheels an one rear, all with their own shock absorbers. It also has larger wheels than most traditional tricycles and the handle bars are positioned under the seat.
2008.02.13 Cal Poly News
Cal Poly Students Work to “Package” Humans
in a New Off-Road Tricycle: SAN LUIS OBISPO – A Cal Poly Industrial Technology instructor and
graduate students of the Orfalea College of Business are set to begin
testing the riding comfort of a newly developed off-road tricycle,
Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15 and 16. Cal Poly
Industrial Technology (IT) instructor Adam Stephens designed a new
long-travel, full suspension off-road tricycle as part of his graduate
work while at Cal Poly....Stephens
fabricated the trike to absorb shock, rather than the rider.
For the frame he used an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy to keep the
trike light, provide rigidity in an off-road environment and allow it
to track well....“The idea was to design a vehicle that would allow
people with back
problems the ability to navigate off-road terrain in comfort.” The 26
year-old instructor suffers from chronic back pain due to a compressed
disc – he missed a landing after jumping off a sand cliff on a
bicycle....The ‘Berserker’ sports two front wheels and one rear, all
with their
own shock absorber. It also uses larger front wheels than most
traditional tricycles. The handle bars are positioned under the seat
and the rider pedals with their feet in a reclined position.