Bimodal exercise device

Apparatus for effecting bimodal exercise approximating sit-down pedalling and stand-up pedalling of a bicycle comprising:

• an exercise bicycle including a frame, seat attached to said frame, a pair of pedals mounted to said frame for rotation about a common axis, braking means, and means coupled to said pedals for driving said braking means;
• said driving means including means for selectively phasing said pedals to alternatively effectuate a 180.degree. relationship for sit-down pedalling and a predetermined relationship for stand-up pedalling in which the relationship between the pedals is other than 180.degree. for stand-up pedalling during the power stroke such that the pedal bearing the power stroke pressure moves through an angle of less than 180.degree. during the power stroke and such that the other pedal moves through an angle greater than 180.degree. during the power stroke.

A bimodal exercise device comprising:

• a stationary bicycle including a frame, a seat attached to said frame, a pair of pedals mounted to said frame for rotation about a common axis, braking means and means coupled to said pedals for driving said braking means, said driving means including means for selectively phasing said pedals in a 180.degree. relationship for sit-down pedalling and for phasing said pedals to restrict the motion of said pedals to avoid top and bottom dead center positions for stand-up pedalling such that during a predetermined power stroke the relationship between the pedals is other than 180.degree. for a portion of the power stroke, and such that the pedal bearing the power stroke pressure moves through an angle less than 180.degree. during the power stroke, whereas the other pedal simultaneously moves through an angle greater than 180.degree. during the power stroke.

Apparatus for effecting exercise approximating stand-up pedalling of a bicycle comprising:

• an exercise bicycle including a frame, a seat attached to said frame, a pair of pedals mounted to said frame for rotation about a common axis, braking means, and means coupled to said pedals for driving said braking means;
• said driving means including means for phasing said pedals such that said pedals are effective to drive said braking means only during a predetermined power stroke in which the relationship between the pedals is other than 180.degree. for a portion of the power stroke, the pedal bearing the power stroke pressure moving through an angle less than 180.degree. during the power stroke, the other pedal moving through an angle greater than 180.degree. during the power stroke, said pedals being returned to a position corresponding to the start of the power stroke when unweighted.