Systems, methods, and devices for simulating real world terrain on an exercise device

An exercise system that simulates a real world exercise route, the exercise system comprising:

• an exercise device comprising a movable element that is movable during performance of exercise by a user, at least one actuator that controls one or more operating parameters of the exercise device, an upright support structure, and a resistance assembly operable to apply resistance to movement of the movable element, the exercise device being receptive to control signals representative of changes to be made to the one or more operating parameters to substantially simulate topographical characteristics of the real world exercise route, the changes to the one or more operating parameters corresponding to one or more aspects of the real world exercise route;
• a remote communication system that communicates with a user of the exercise device to enable the user to select a starting point and an ending point for the real world exercise route, wherein the remote communication system uses data relating to the one or more aspects of the real world exercise route to generate exercise programming, the exercise programming including one or more control signals and display programming, the display programming including images of the real world exercise route synchronized with the one or more control signals;
• and
• a local computer in communication with the remote communication system and the exercise device, wherein the local computer receives the exercise programming from the remote communication system, wherein the local computer communicates the one or more control signals to the exercise device, and wherein the local computer comprises a display that presents the display programming to the user during performance of exercise;
• wherein the exercise programming is adapted to adjust a tilt of the upright support structure and the resistance provided by the resistance assembly based upon the topographical characteristics of the real world exercise route and the user's weight such that the remote communication system changes the tilt based on the topographical characteristics and the user's weight at the same time the display programming of the simulated real world exercise route depicts a change in terrain.

In a computerized exercise environment including an exercise device, a remote communication system that generates exercise programming, and a local computer, a method of controlling the exercise device, the exercise device comprising a movable element that is movable during performance of exercise by a user, an upright support structure, and a resistance assembly operable to apply resistance to movement of the movable element, the method comprising:

• receiving one or more user inputs at the remote communication system, the one or more user inputs defining at least a starting point and an ending point for a real world exercise route, wherein the remote communication system generates and synchronizes one or more control signals with one or more images of the real world exercise route to generate exercise programming, the one or more control signals being adapted to control one or more operating parameters, which include at least a tilt of the upright support structure and the resistance provided by the resistance assembly of the exercise device based upon topographical characteristics of the real world exercise route and the user's weight such that the remote communication system changes the tilt based on the topographical characteristics and the user's weight at the same time the display programming of the simulated real world exercise route depicts a change in terrain;
• communicating the exercise programming from the remote communication system to the local computer;
• communicating the one or more control signals from the local computer to the exercise device to control the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device;
• and
• displaying the one or more images of the real world exercise route as the one or more control signals control the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device.