Systems and methods for enabling two-way communication between one or more exercise devices and computer devices and for enabling users of the one or more exercise devices to competitively exercise

An exercise system configured to enable a user to perform a physical exercise, the system comprising:

• an exercise device comprising a movable element configured to enable the performance of an exercise by a user, said exercise device receiving data using an exercise communication protocol;
• a computer device communicatively coupled to the exercise device, said computer device storing exercise data to be transmitted using a computer communication protocol;
• and
• a translator device communicatively disposed between said exercise device and said computer device, said translator device facilitating communication between said exercise device and said computer device by translating data transmitted over a wired connection from said computer device to said translator device using said computer communication protocol into data deliverable to said exercise device over a wired or wireless connection by said exercise communication protocol, and wherein said computer device delivers data including control signals to said translator device, the control signals being configured to change at least one operating parameter of said exercise device.