Networked exercise devices with shared virtual training

An exercise device for a shared virtual exercise session with one or more other exercise devices over a network, each of the other exercise devices having a respective exercise apparatus having an adjustable difficulty setting, each of the other exercise devices being a peer device to the exercise device, the exercise device comprising:

• an exercise apparatus having an adjustable difficulty setting;
• a display screen configured to display a graphical interface;
• a user input device;
• a communication subsystem for communicating over the network;
• memory;
• and
• at least one processor in operable communication with the display screen, the user input device, a control of the adjustable difficulty setting, and the memory, for executing instructions stored in the memory that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
• display on the graphical interface, based on communication over the network, at least one representation of users of the exercise devices during the shared virtual exercise session,
• control the adjustable difficulty setting of the exercise apparatus to one or more of the difficulty settings during the shared virtual exercise session,
• receive a user input command from the user input device during the shared virtual exercise session,
• in response to the user input command, cause a same adjustment to a respective current difficulty setting of said exercise device and said one or more other exercise devices, and
• receive a command over the network from one of the other exercise devices during the shared virtual exercise session, and in response to the receiving the command, performing the control of the adjustable difficulty setting of the exercise apparatus to a second same adjustment as the one of the other exercise devices.