Patent ID: 7435203

Claim:
An exercise apparatus comprising: a step mechanism including a first pedal and a second pedal wherein said step mechanism effective to cause said pedals to move in a substantially elliptical path having a vertical component and a substantially horizontal component that corresponds generally to user stride length; a stride length adjustment mechanism operatively connected to said step mechanism; a control system, including a processor, operatively connected to said step mechanism and said stride length adjustment mechanism; a user input and display system, operatively connected to said control system, including a plurality of input keys to permit a user to input information into said control system and at least one display for displaying exercise data; a pedal speed sensor operatively connected to said control system; program logic associated with said control system effective to cause said stride length to increase with increased speed of said pedals; and wherein said speed sensor additionally senses the direction of movement of said pedals and said program logic is effective to cause said stride length to change with the direction of movement of said pedals.