System and method for exercising

An interactive exercise bicycle, comprising:

• a bicycle frame having a support base configured to rest upon a support surface and a generally upright support structure pivotally coupled to the support base at a pivot, wherein the generally upright support structure comprises a first support member having a seat and a second support member having a handlebar assembly;
• a pedal assembly connected to the bicycle frame, the pedal assembly being rotatable in a first direction;
• a resistance assembly operatively associated with the pedal assembly and that selectively applies resistance to rotation of the pedal assembly, wherein the resistance assembly comprises:
• a flywheel operatively linked to the pedal assembly;
• a first resistance mechanism associated with the flywheel, the first resistance mechanism being responsive to electrical control signals, wherein, in response to the electrical control signals, the first resistance mechanism selectively applies a positive resistance to the flywheel, wherein the positive resistance resists rotation of the pedal assembly in the first direction;
• and
• a second resistance mechanism directly coupled to the pedal assembly, wherein the second resistance mechanism selectively applies a negative resistance to the pedal assembly in the form of a rotation force on the pedal assembly that assists rotation of the pedal assembly in the first direction, wherein the first resistance mechanism and the second resistance mechanism are configured to selectively apply the positive resistance and the negative resistance simultaneously during a first operative state and to selectively apply the positive resistance and the negative resistance exclusive of one other during other operative states;
• an incline mechanism configured to selectively vary a pitch of at least a portion of the generally upright support structure relative to the support surface, the incline mechanism being connected between the support base and the first support member, the incline mechanism being responsive to electrical control signals to selectively vary the pitch of the generally upright support structure, wherein extension of the incline mechanism selectively varies the pitch of the generally upright support structure by actively pivoting the generally upright support structure about the pivot so that the seat is positioned vertically higher than the handlebar assembly to substantially simulate descending a hill, and wherein contraction of the incline mechanism selectively varies the pitch of the generally upright support structure by actively pivoting the generally upright support structure about the pivot so that the handlebar assembly is positioned vertically higher than the seat to substantially simulate ascending a hill, wherein the incline mechanism actively pivots the generally upright support structure about the pivot by applying a force between the base support and the generally upright support structure that pushes or pulls on the generally upright support structure;
• and
• a simulation system configured to substantially simulate a real-world exercise route by adjusting operating parameters of at least the incline mechanism, the simulation system being configured to provide control signals to the incline mechanism to vary the operating parameters of the incline mechanism, the control signals being representative of changes to at least one of the vertical pitch or lateral pitch of the bicycle frame relative to the support surface;
• wherein the second resistance mechanism applies the negative resistance when the seat is positioned vertically higher than the handlebar assembly to substantially simulate descending a hill, and removes the negative resistance when the handlebar assembly is positioned vertically higher than the seat to substantially simulate ascending a hill.

An exercise bicycle, comprising:

• a bicycle frame having a support base configured to rest upon a support surface and a generally upright support structure pivotally coupled to the support base at a pivot, wherein the generally upright support structure comprises a first support member having a seat and a second support member having a handlebar assembly;
• a pedal assembly connected to the bicycle frame, the pedal assembly being rotatable in a first direction, the pedal assembly comprises a pair of cranks and a crankshaft extending therebetween;
• means for obtaining electrical control signals representative of real-world exercise route information;
• means for varying a pitch of at least a portion of the bicycle frame relative to the support surface and responsive to the obtained electrical control signals representative of the real-world exercise route information, wherein the means for selectively varying a pitch selectively varies the pitch of the generally upright support structure by actively pushing or pulling on the generally upright support structure to pivot the generally upright support structure about the pivot so that the seat is positioned vertically lower than the handlebar assembly to substantially simulate ascending a hill and by actively pushing or pulling on the generally upright support structure to pivot the generally upright support structure about the pivot so that the handlebar assembly is positioned vertically lower than the seat to substantially simulate descending a hill;
• a resistance assembly operatively associated with the pedal assembly and that selectively applies resistance to rotation of the pedal assembly, wherein the resistance assembly comprises:
• a flywheel operatively linked to the pedal assembly;
• a brake that selectively applies a positive resistance to the flywheel, wherein the positive resistance resists rotation of the pedal assembly in the first direction;
• and
• an electric motor coupled directly to the crankshaft of the pedal assembly, wherein the electric motor selectively applies a negative resistance to the pedal assembly in the form of a rotation force on the pedal assembly that assists rotation of the pedal assembly in the first direction, wherein the negative resistance is calculated by multiplying a gravitational force value by an incline value, wherein the incline value is associated with the pitch of the bicycle frame, wherein the brake and the electric motor are configured to selectively apply the positive resistance and the negative resistance simultaneously during a first operative state and to selectively apply the positive resistance and the negative resistance exclusive of one other during other operative states;
• wherein the electric motor applies the negative resistance when the handlebar assembly is positioned vertically lower than the seat to substantially simulate descending a hill, and removes the negative resistance when the seat is positioned vertically lower than the handlebar assembly to substantially simulate ascending a hill.