Patent ID: 7645212

Claim:
An exercise system comprising: a support structure configured to support an operable member movably coupled to the support structure; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise system, the virtual trail system comprising: (i) an interface console configured to adjust incline levels of said operable member and including multiple successive incline level keys and numeric indicia representative of specific incline levels corresponding to each incline level key, said interface console comprising indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, and (ii) a braking means for electronically slowing the speed of the operable member, wherein the braking means comprises a means for dissipating power generated by the exercise system, wherein said means for dissipating power is activated at operational points that are partially dependent on user attributes including user mass and force exerted by the user and partially dependent on virtual trail system parameters including inclination or declination positions, operating speed, and overall virtual trail system resistance.