Exercise machine

• US 20020142890A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Ohrt, John Arthur, Duncan, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,689,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0038 One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0043 the movements of the limbs of one body half being synchronised, e.g. the left arm moving in the same direction as the left leg
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0623 Cranks of adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/067 with crank and handles being on opposite sides of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. the crank is behind and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0053 using alternators or dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4049 Rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0015 with an adjustable movement path of the support elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0017 the adjustment being controlled by movement of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 : the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0025 : Particular aspects relating to the orientation of movement paths of the limbs relative to the body; Relative relationship between the movements of the limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/04 : with movable multiple steps , i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 : Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03591 : Upper and lower limb moving in phase, i.e. right foot moving in the same direction as the right hand

Abstract

An exercise device providing a fore and aft horizontal component of striding motion that is dynamically user-defined, while providing a vertical component of the motion that is maintained on a predetermined vertically reciprocating path in some embodiments. The exercise device guides the user'"'"'s foot in a pseudo-elliptical stride path, while providing a dynamically variable stride length that allows the user to move with a natural stride length. The exercise device allows tall and short users to extend or curtail the stride length to match their natural stride lengths. The length of the reciprocating path is dynamically adjusted during the exercise operation without equipment adjustments by changes in the length of the stride input by the user at a pair of foot engagement pads disposed on laterally spaced apart foot support members.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first end portion and a second end portion arranged to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with striding steps;

a left foot engagement member having a first end portion and a second end portion arranged to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with striding steps;

right and left lifting-lowering members supporting and reciprocally lifting and lowering the first end portion of the right and left foot engagement members, respectively, with an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members being decoupled from the respective ones of the right and left lifting-lowering members to allow movement thereof in forward and rearward directions relative to the right and left lifting-lowering members in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise and thereby permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise; and

a second end portion support arranged to support the second end portions of the right and left foot engagement members, and to guide the second end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow a forward-rearward reciprocating motion with a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a coupler coupling the right and left foot engagement members together to move in opposite forward and rearward directions during the striding exercise.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a coupler coupling the right and left foot engagement members to move in opposite upward and downward directions during the striding exercise.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a coupler coupling the right and left lifting-lowering members to lift and lower the first portions of the right and left foot engagement member in coordinated opposing directions during the striding exercise.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the right and left foot engagement members each include a foot engagement portion for placement of the user'"'"'s right and left feet, respectively, during the striding exercise, the foot engagement portion being at a location between the first and second end portions of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the right lifting-lowering member rotatably supports a right roller and the left lifting-lowering member rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly supporting the first end portion of the right foot engagement member thereon and the left roller rollingly supporting the first end portion of the left foot engagement member thereon to allow the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left lifting-lowering members in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise and thereby permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with the variable length of forward-rearward travel, while the right and left lifting-lowering members lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the right lifting-lowering member includes a right rotatable member and the left lifting-lowering member includes a left rotatable member, each of the right and left rotatable members rotating during the striding exercise with a rotational movement having an upward movement component and a downward movement component which is applied to the first end portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein the right and left rotatable members are coupled together to rotate in unison in a single rotational direction, out of positional coincidence with each other during the striding exercise.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein the right rotatable member rotatably supports a right roller and the left rotatable member rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly supporting the first end portion of the right foot engagement member thereon and the left roller rollingly supporting the first end portion of the left foot engagement member thereon to allow the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left rotatable members in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise and thereby permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with the variable length of forward-rearward travel, while the right and left rotatable members rotate during the striding exercise to lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein the right rotatable member includes a right crank arm supporting the first end portion of the right foot engagement member to lift and lower the first end portion of the right foot engagement member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the left rotatable member includes a left crank arm supporting the first end portion of the left foot engagement member to lift and lower the first end portion of the left foot engagement member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise to thereby produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 10 further including an inertial member coupled to rotate with the right and left crank arms.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 10 wherein the right crank arm and left crank arm are coupled together by a crankshaft to rotate in unison in a single rotational direction, out of positional coincidence with each other during the striding exercise.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 further including an inertial member rotatably mounted for rotation with the crankshaft.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 13 further including a resistance member coupled to the crankshaft to resist rotation thereof.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 10 wherein the right crank arm rotatably supports a right roller and the left crank arm rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly supporting the first end portion of the right foot engagement member thereon and the left roller rollingly supporting the first end portion of the left foot engagement member thereon to allow the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise and thereby permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with the variable length of forward-rearward travel, while the right and left crank arms rotate during the striding exercise to lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of the right and left crank arms includes a crank pin rotatably supporting the respective one of the right and left rollers.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left rotatable members to resist rotation thereof.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left lifting-lowering members to resist lowering of the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left foot engagement members to resist the upward-downward movement thereof.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left foot engagement members to resist the forward-rearward movement thereof.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left foot engagement members to resist both the upward-downward movement thereof and the forward-rearward movement thereof.

22. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end portion support includes right and left swing arms, each supporting the second end portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members for movement in an arcuate path to guide the second end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

23. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end portion support includes right and left tracks, each supporting the second end portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members for forward and rearward movement along the respective one of the right and left tracks to guide the second end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

24. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the right lifting-lowering member supports a right linear bearing and the left lifting-lowering member supports a left linear bearing, the right linear bearing supporting the first end portion of the right foot engagement member and the left linear bearing supporting the first end portion of the left foot engagement member to allow the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left lifting-lowering members in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise and thereby permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with the variable length of forward-rearward travel, while the right and left lifting-lowering members lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

25. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first end portion of the right foot engagement member is movably supported atop the right lifting-lowering member to allow the forward and rearward movement of the first end portion of the right foot engagement member relative thereto in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the first end portion of the left foot engagement member is movably supported atop the left lifting-lowering member to allow the forward and rearward movement of the first end portions of the left foot engagement member relative thereto in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and thereby the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members are permitted to move with the variable length of forward-rearward travel, while the right and left lifting-lowering members lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

26. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the right lifting-lowering member include a right cam follower and the left lifting-lowering member include a left cam follower, and wherein the first end portion of the right foot engagement member includes a right cam with a downwardly facing cam surface and the first end portion of the left foot engagement member includes a left cam with a downwardly facing cam surface, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and through the right cam the first end portion of the right foot engagement member is supported by the right lifting-lowering member and allowed to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the right lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and through the left cam the first end portion of the left foot engagement member is supported by the left lifting-lowering member and allowed to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the left lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, the cam surface of the right cam being curved such that the movement of the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam during at least the terminal portion of the right foot striding step increasingly raises the right foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the cam surface of the left cam being curved such that the movement of the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam during at least the terminal portion of the left foot striding step increasingly raises the left foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so.

27. The exercise apparatus of claim 26 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface and thereby limit movement of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members toward the stop.

28. The exercise apparatus of claim 26 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

29. The exercise apparatus of claim 26 wherein the right lifting-lowering member further includes a right crank arm and the left lifting-lowering member further includes a left crank arm, the right cam follower being attached to a distal end portion of the right crank arm and the left cam follower being attached to a distal end portion of the left crank arm, the right and left crank arms each supporting, through the right and left cam followers engaging the right and left cams, the first end portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left cam followers in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and to further guide the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

30. The exercise apparatus of claim 29 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

31. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including right and left cam followers, and right and left cams, one of the right cam follower and the right cam comprising a portion of the right lifting-lowering member and the other one comprising a portion of the first end portion of the right foot engagement member, and one of the left cam follower and the left cam comprising a portion of the left lifting-lowering member and the other one comprising a portion of the first end portion of the left foot engagement member, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and thereby supporting the first end portion of the right foot engagement member and allowing the first end portion of the right foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the right lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and thereby supporting the first end portion of the left foot engagement member and allowing the first end portion of the left foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the left lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, the cam surface of the right cam being curved such that the movement of the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam during at least the terminal portion of the right foot striding step increasingly raises the right foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the cam surface of the left cam being curved such that the movement of the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam during at least the terminal portion of the left foot striding step increasingly raises the left foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so.

32. The exercise apparatus of claim 31 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface and thereby limit movement of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members toward the stop.

33. The exercise apparatus of claim 31 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

34. The exercise apparatus of claim 31 wherein the right lifting-lowering member further includes a right crank arm to lift and lower the first end portion of the right foot engagement member and the left lifting-lowering member further includes a left crank arm to lift and lower the first end portion of the left foot engagement member, the one of the right cam follower and the right cam comprising the portion of the right lifting-lowering member being attached to a distal end portion of the right crank arm and the other one being attached to the first end portion of the right foot engagement member, and the one of the left cam follower and the left cam comprising the portion of the left lifting-lowering member being attached to a distal end portion of the left crank arm and the other one being attached to the first end portion of the left foot engagement member, the right and left crank arms each supporting, through the right and left cam followers engaging the right and left cams, the first end portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to allow the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise and thereby permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with the variable length of forward-rearward travel, while the right and left crank arms lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

35. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the right lifting-lowering member includes a right cam follower and the left lifting-lowering member includes a left cam follower, and wherein the first end portion of the right foot engagement member includes a right cam with a cam surface and the first end portion of the left foot engagement member includes a left cam with a cam surface, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and through the right cam the first end portion of the right foot engagement member is supported by the right lifting-lowering member and allowed to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the right lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and through the left cam the first end portion of the left foot engagement member is supported by left lifting-lowering member and allowed to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the left lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the cam surface of each of the right and left cams having a mid-portion with a curved surface extending forward thereof to a forward end portion and a curved surface extending rearward thereof to a rearward end portion with the curvature of the curved surface increasing over the forward and rearward end portions in the direction away from the mid-portion, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the movement of the right and left cams relative to the respective one of the right and left cam followers along the forward and rearward end portions of the respective one of the cam surfaces in the direction away from the mid-portion increasingly raises the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to do so.

36. The exercise apparatus of claim 35 wherein the cam surfaces of the right and left cams are downwardly facing.

37. The exercise apparatus of claim 35 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof at each of the forward and rearward ends thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface.

38. The exercise apparatus of claim 35 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

39. The exercise apparatus of claim 35 wherein the right lifting-lowering member further includes a right crank arm to lift and lower the first end portion of the right foot engagement member and the left lifting-lowering member further includes a left crank arm to lift and lower the first end portion of the left foot engagement member, the right cam follower being attached to a distal end portion of the right crank arm and the left cam follower being attached to a distal end portion of the left crank arm, the right and left crank arms each supporting, through the right and left cam followers engaging the right and left cams, the first end portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to allow the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left cam followers in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, while the right and left crank arms lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

40. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including right and left cam followers, and right and left cams, one of the right cam follower and the right cam comprising a portion of the right lifting-lowering member and the other one comprising a portion of the first end portion of the right foot engagement member, and one of the left cam follower and the left cam comprising a portion of the left lifting-lowering member and the other one comprising a portion of the first end portion of the left foot engagement member, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and thereby supporting the first end portion of the right foot engagement member and allowing the first end portion of the right foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the right lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and thereby supporting the first end portion of the left foot engagement member and allowing the first end portion of the left foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the left lifting-lowering member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the cam surface of each of the right and left cams having a mid-portion with a curved surface extending forward thereof to a forward end portion and a curved surface extending rearward thereof to a rearward end portion with the curvature of the curved surface increasing over the forward and rearward end portions in the direction away from the mid-portion, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the movement of the right and left cams relative to the respective one of the right and left cam followers along the forward and rearward end portions of the respective cam surfaces in the direction away from the mid-portion increasingly raises the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to do so.

41. The exercise apparatus of claim 40 wherein the cam surfaces of the right and left cams are downwardly facing.

42. The exercise apparatus of claim 40 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof at each of the forward and rearward ends thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface.

43. The exercise apparatus of claim 40 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

44. The exercise apparatus of claim 40 wherein the right lifting-lowering member further includes a right crank arm to lift and lower the first end portion of the right foot engagement member and the left lifting-lowering member further includes a left crank arm to lift and lower the first end portion of the left foot engagement member, the one of the right cam follower and the right cam comprising the portion of the right lifting-lowering member being attached to a distal end portion of the right crank arm and the other one being attached to the first end portion of the right foot engagement member, and the one of the left cam follower and the left cam comprising the portion of the left lifting-lowering member being attached to a distal end portion of the left crank arm and the other one being attached to the first end portion of the left foot engagement member, the right and left crank arms each supporting, through the right and left cam followers engaging the right and left cams, the first end portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to allow the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, while the right and left crank arms lift and lower the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

45. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the right and left lifting-lowering members are both supported by a base support, and the exercise apparatus further includes a ground engaging base having the lifting-lowering member base support affixed thereto at a stationary position on the base during the striding exercise.

47. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including a coupler coupling the right and left foot engagement members together to move in opposite forward and rearward directions during the striding exercise.

48. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including a coupler coupling the right and left crank arms together to lift and lower the first portions of the right and left foot engagement member in coordinated opposing directions during the striding exercise.

49. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including a coupler coupling the right and left crank arms together to rotate in unison in a single rotational direction, out of positional coincidence with each other during the striding exercise.

50. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 wherein the right crank arm rotatably supports a right roller and the left crank arm rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and the left roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members in the forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise.

51. The exercise apparatus of claim 50 wherein the first portion of the right foot engagement member is positioned atop and rollingly supported by the right roller, and the first portion of the left foot engagement member is positioned atop and rollingly supported by the left roller.

52. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including an inertial member coupled to rotate with the right and left crank arms.

53. The exercise apparatus of claim 52 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left crank arms to resist rotation thereof.

54. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left crank arms to resist lowering of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members.

55. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including a resistance member coupled to resist the upward-downward movement of the right and left foot engagement members.

56. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including a resistance member coupled to resist the forward-rearward movement of the right and left foot engagement members.

57. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including a resistance member coupled to resist both the upward-downward movement thereof and the forward-rearward movement of the right and left foot engagement members.

58. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 wherein the second portion support includes right and left swing arms, the right and left swing arms each having a lower end portion thereof pivotally coupled to the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to guide the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

59. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 wherein the second portion support includes right and left tracks, each guiding the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

60. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including right and left cam followers, and right and left cams, one of the right cam follower and the right cam being coupled to the right crank arm and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the right foot engagement member, and one of the left cam follower and the left cam being coupled to the left crank arm and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the left foot engagement member, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the right foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the right crank arm in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the left foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the left crank arm in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, the cam surface of the right cam being curved such that the movement of the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam during at least the terminal portion of the right foot striding step increasingly raises the right foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the cam surface of the left cam being curved such that the movement of the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam during at least the terminal portion of the left foot striding step increasingly raises the left foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so.

61. The exercise apparatus of claim 60 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface and thereby limit movement of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members toward the stop.

62. The exercise apparatus of claim 60 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

63. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 further including right and left cam followers, and right and left cams, one of the right cam follower and the right cam being coupled to the right crank arm and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the right foot engagement member, and one of the left cam follower and the left cam being coupled to the left crank arm and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the left foot engagement member, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the right foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the right crank arm in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the left foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the left crank arm in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the cam surface of each of the right and left cams having a mid-portion with a curved surface extending forward thereof to a forward end portion and a curved surface extending rearward thereof to a rearward end portion with the curvature of the curved surface increasing over the forward and rearward end portions in the direction away from the mid-portion, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the movement of the right and left cams relative to the respective one of the right and left cam followers along the forward and rearward end portions of the respective cam surfaces in the direction away from the mid-portion increasingly raises the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to do so.

64. The exercise apparatus of claim 63 wherein the cam surfaces of the right and left cams are downwardly facing.

65. The exercise apparatus of claim 63 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof at each of the forward and rearward ends thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface.

66. The exercise apparatus of claim 63 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

67. The exercise apparatus of claim 46 wherein the right and left crank arms are both supported by a base support, and the exercise apparatus further includes a ground engaging base having the lifting-lowering member base support affixed thereto at a stationary position on the base during the striding exercise.

69. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including a member coordinating the right and left foot engagement members to move in opposite upward and downward directions during the striding exercise.

70. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including a member coordinating the right and left foot engagement members to move in opposite forward and rearward directions during the striding exercise.

71. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 wherein the first support includes a right roller and a left roller, the right roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and the left roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members in the forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise.

72. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 wherein the first support includes a right rotatable member and a left rotatable member rotating during the striding exercise, each with a rotational movement having an upward movement component and a downward movement component which is applied to the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

73. The exercise apparatus of claim 72 wherein the right rotatable member rotatably supports a right roller and the left rotatable member rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and the left roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members in the forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise.

74. The exercise apparatus of claim 73 wherein the first portion of the right foot engagement member is positioned atop and rollingly supported by the right roller, and the first portion of the left foot engagement member is positioned atop and rollingly supported by the left roller.

75. The exercise apparatus of claim 72 wherein the right rotatable member is a right crank arm and the left rotatable member is a left crank arm, each of the right and left crank arms supporting the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to guide the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

76. The exercise apparatus of claim 75 wherein the right crank arm rotatably supports a right roller and the left crank arm rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and the left roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members in the forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise.

77. The exercise apparatus of claim 76 wherein the first portion of the right foot engagement member is positioned atop and rollingly supported by the right roller, and the first portion of the left foot engagement member is positioned atop and rollingly supported by the left roller.

78. The exercise apparatus of claim 72 further including an inertial member coupled to rotate with the right and left rotatable members.

79. The exercise apparatus of claim 78 further including a resistance member coupled to the right and left rotatable members to resist rotation thereof.

80. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including a resistance member coupled to the first support to resist downward movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members.

81. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including a resistance member coupled to resist the upward-downward movement of the right and left foot engagement members.

82. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including a resistance member coupled to resist the forward-rearward movement of the right and left foot engagement members.

83. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including a resistance member coupled to resist both the upward-downward movement thereof and the forward-rearward movement of the right and left foot engagement members.

84. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 wherein the second support includes right and left swing arms, the right and left swing arms each having a lower end portion thereof pivotally coupled to the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to guide the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

85. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 wherein the second support includes right and left tracks, each guiding the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

86. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including right and left cam followers, and right and left cams, one of the right cam follower and the right cam being coupled to the first support and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the right foot engagement member, and one of the left cam follower and the left cam being coupled to the first support and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the left foot engagement member, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the right foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the left foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, the cam surface of the right cam being curved such that the movement of the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam during at least the terminal portion of the right foot striding step increasingly raises the right foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the cam surface of the left cam being curved such that the movement of the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam during at least the terminal portion of the left foot striding step increasingly raises the left foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so.

87. The exercise apparatus of claim 86 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface and thereby limit movement of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members toward the stop.

88. The exercise apparatus of claim 86 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

89. The exercise apparatus of claim 86 wherein the first support includes right and left crank arms, the right cam follower being attached to the right crank arm and the left cam follower being attached to the left crank arm, the right and left crank arms each supporting, through the right and left cam followers engaging the right and left cams, the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to permit the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left cam followers in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and to further guide the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

90. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 further including right and left cam followers, and right and left cams, one of the right cam follower and the right cam being coupled to the first support and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the right foot engagement member, and one of the left cam follower and the left cam being coupled to the first support and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the left foot engagement member, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the right foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the left foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the cam surface of each of the right and left cams having a mid-portion with a curved surface extending forward thereof to a forward end portion and a curved surface extending rearward thereof to a rearward end portion with the curvature of the curved surface increasing over the forward and rearward end portions in the direction away from the mid-portion, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the movement of the right and left cams relative to the respective one of the right and left cam followers along the forward and rearward end portions of the respective cam surfaces in the direction away from the mid-portion increasingly raises the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to do so.

91. The exercise apparatus of claim 90 wherein the cam surfaces of the right and left cams are downwardly facing.

92. The exercise apparatus of claim 90 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof at each of the forward and rearward ends thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface.

93. The exercise apparatus of claim 90 wherein the right and left cam followers comprise rollers, each rollingly engaging the cam surface of the respective one of the right and left cams.

94. The exercise apparatus of claim 90 wherein the first support further includes right and left crank arms, the one of the right cam follower and the right cam coupled to the first support being attached a distal end portion of the right crank arm, and the one of the left cam follower and the left cam coupled to the first support being attached to a distal end portion of the left crank arm, the right and left crank arms each supporting, through the right and left cam followers engaging the right and left cams, the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to permit the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and to further guide the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

95. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 wherein the first support is supported by a base support, and the exercise apparatus further includes a ground engaging base having the first support member base support affixed thereto at a stationary position on the base during the striding exercise.

96. The exercise apparatus of claim 68 wherein the first support includes a right linear bearing movably engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and a left linear bearing movably engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left linear bearings in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise and thereby permit the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with the variable length of forward-rearward travel, while the first support guides the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise to produce the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

46. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with striding steps;

a left foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with striding steps;

right and left rotatable crank arms supporting and reciprocally lifting and lowering the first portion of the right and left foot engagement members, respectively, with an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise to rotate the right and left crank arms, the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members being decoupled from the respective ones of the right and left crank arms to allow movement thereof in forward and rearward directions relative to the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise sufficient to permit the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise within a maximum range of forward-rearward travel and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise within the range; and

a second portion support guiding the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow a forward-rearward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise as the right and left crank arms reciprocally lift and lower the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members.

68. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with striding steps;

a left foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with striding steps;

a first support engaging the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to guide the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the first support allowing the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise; and

a second support engaging the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to guide the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow a forward-rearward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the first and second supports operating in combination to permit each of the right and left foot engagement members to move, in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, along a striding path having a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps actually used by the user during the striding exercise.

97. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with striding steps;

a left foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with striding steps;

a first member arranged to guide the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, with a length of upward-downward travel during the striding exercise not variable in response to the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise or to changes in the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise, while allowing the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise; and

a second member arranged to guide the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow a forward-rearward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the first and second members operating to permit each of the right and left foot engagement members to move, in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, along a striding path having a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps actually used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise.

98. The exercise apparatus of claim 97 wherein the first member includes a right rotatable member and a left rotatable member rotating during the striding exercise, each with a rotational movement having an upward movement component and a downward movement component which is applied to the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

99. The exercise apparatus of claim 98 wherein the right rotatable member rotatably supports a right roller and the left rotatable member rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and the left roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members in the forward and rearward directions relative to the first member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise.

100. The exercise apparatus of claim 98 wherein the right rotatable member is a right crank arm and the left rotatable member is a left crank arm, each of the right and left crank arms supporting the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to guide the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

101. The exercise apparatus of claim 100 wherein the right crank arm rotatably supports a right roller and the left crank arm rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and the left roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members in the forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise.

102. The exercise apparatus of claim 98 further including an inertial member coupled to rotate with the right and left rotatable members.

103. The exercise apparatus of claim 97 wherein the second member includes right and left swing arms, the right and left swing arms each having a lower end portion thereof pivotally coupled to the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to guide the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

104. The exercise apparatus of claim 97 wherein the second member includes right and left tracks, each guiding the second portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the forward-rearward reciprocating motion.

105. The exercise apparatus of claim 97 further including right and left cam followers, and right and left cams, one of the right cam follower and the right cam being coupled to the first member and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the right foot engagement member, and one of the left cam follower and the left cam being coupled to the first member and the other one being coupled to the first portion of the left foot engagement member, the cam surface of the right cam being in engagement with the right cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the right foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and the cam surface of the left cam being in engagement with the left cam follower and thereby supporting and allowing the first portion of the left foot engagement member to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the right foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s right foot during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step to move the right cam relative to the right cam follower and the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam, the cam surface of the right cam being curved such that the movement of the right cam follower along the cam surface of the right cam during at least the terminal portion of the right foot striding step increasingly raises the right foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, and the left foot engagement member being movable by the user'"'"'s left foot during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step to move the left cam relative to the left cam follower and the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam, the cam surface of the left cam being curved such that the movement of the left cam follower along the cam surface of the left cam during at least the terminal portion of the left foot striding step increasingly raises the left foot engagement member upward thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requires more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so.

106. The exercise apparatus of claim 105 wherein the right and left cams each further include a stop positioned along the cam surface thereof to engage the respective one of the right and left cam followers and limit movement thereof along the cam surface and thereby limit movement of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members toward the stop.

107. The exercise apparatus of claim 105 wherein the first member further includes right and left crank arms, the one of the right cam follower and the right cam coupled to the first member being attached a distal end portion of the right crank arm, and the one of the left cam follower and the left cam coupled to the first member being attached to a distal end portion of the left crank arm, the right and left crank arms each supporting, through the right and left cam followers engaging the right and left cams, the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to permit the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, and to further guide the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow the upward-downward reciprocating motion.

108. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion arranged to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with the striding step;

a left foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion arranged to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with the striding step;

a first member engagingly supporting the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to reciprocally move each of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members with a vertical component of motion, while allowing the right and left foot engagement members to move horizontally relative to the first member in a user variable amount during the striding exercise; and

a second member engagingly supporting the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to permit reciprocal movement of the right and left foot engagement members with a user variable amount of horizontal component of motion, the first and second members permitting independent movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members with the vertical components of motion and the right and left foot engagement members with the horizontal components of motion in response to the user applying an input energy to the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise by the user moving the user'"'"'s right and left feet with striding steps, the right and left foot engagement members being supported by the first and second members to permit the right and left foot engagement members to move along a striding path having the user variable amount of horizontal components of motion corresponding to the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user, whereby the right and left foot engagement members move with the horizontal components of motion in the user variable amount to follow the horizontal movement of user'"'"'s right and left feet during the striding exercise even as the length of the striding steps used by the user changes during the striding exercise.

109. The exercise apparatus of claim 108 wherein the first member includes a right rotatable member and a left rotatable member rotating during the striding exercise, each with a rotational movement having an upward movement component and a downward movement component which is applied to the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to move the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members with the vertical component of motion.

110. The exercise apparatus of claim 109 wherein the right rotatable member is a right crank arm and the left rotatable member is a left crank arm, each of the right and left crank arms being operatively coupled to the first portion of the respective one of the right and left foot engagement members to move the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members with the vertical component of motion.

111. The exercise apparatus of claim 110 wherein the right crank arm rotatably supports a right roller and the left crank arm rotatably supports a left roller, the right roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the right foot engagement member and the left roller rollingly engaging the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow the right and left foot engagement members to move horizontally relative to the respective one of the right and left crank arms in the user variable amount during the striding exercise.

112. The exercise apparatus of claim 108 wherein the first member includes a right linear bearing supporting the first portion of the right foot engagement member and a left linear bearing supporting the first portion of the left foot engagement member to allow the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move horizontally relative to the respective one of the right and left linear bearings in the user variable amount in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, while the first member moves the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members with the vertical components of motion during the striding exercise.

114. The exercise apparatus of claim 113 further including:

means for increasingly raising the right foot engagement member upward and thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requiring more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step; and

means for increasingly raising the left foot engagement member upward and thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requiring more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so, during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step

115. The exercise apparatus of claim 114 further including:

means for limiting movement of the right foot engagement member beyond the terminal portion of the right foot striding step; and

means for limiting movement of the left foot engagement member beyond the terminal portion of the left foot striding step.

117. The exercise apparatus of claim 116 further including:

means for increasingly raising the right foot engagement member upward and thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requiring more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step; and

means for increasingly raising the left foot engagement member upward and thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requiring more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so, during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step

118. The exercise apparatus of claim 117 further including:

means for limiting movement of the right foot engagement member beyond the terminal portion of the right foot striding step; and

means for limiting movement of the left foot engagement member beyond the terminal portion of the left foot striding step.

120. The exercise apparatus of claim 119 further including:

means for increasingly raising the right foot engagement member upward and thereby lifting the weight of the user on the right foot engagement member and increasingly requiring more effort of the user applied to the right foot engagement member to do so, during at least a terminal portion of a right foot striding step; and

means for increasingly raising the left foot engagement member upward and thereby lifting the weight of the user on the left foot engagement member and increasingly requiring more effort of the user applied to the left foot engagement member to do so, during at least a terminal portion of a left foot striding step

121. The exercise apparatus of claim 120 further including:

means for limiting movement of the right foot engagement member beyond the terminal portion of the right foot striding step; and

means for limiting movement of the left foot engagement member beyond the terminal portion of the left foot striding step.

113. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first end portion and a second end portion arranged to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with striding steps;

a left foot engagement member having a first end portion and a second end portion arranged to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with striding steps;

right means for supporting and reciprocally lifting and lowering the first end portion of the right foot engagement member with an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise;

left means for supporting and reciprocally lifting and lowering the first end portion of the left foot engagement member with an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise;

means for allowing movement of the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members in forward and rearward directions relative to the respective one of the right and left lifting-lowering means in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise to permit the first end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move with a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise; and

means for supporting and guiding the second end portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow a forward-rearward reciprocating motion with a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise.

116. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with striding steps;

a left foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with striding steps;

first means for guiding the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the first means further allowing the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first support in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise; and

second means for guiding the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow a forward-rearward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the first and second means operating in combination for permitting each of the right and left foot engagement members to move, in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, along a striding path having a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps actually used by the user during the striding exercise.

119. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with striding steps;

a left foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion, and a foot engagement portion to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with striding steps;

first means for guiding the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow an upward-downward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, with a length of upward-downward travel during the striding exercise not variable in response to the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise or to changes in the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise, while allowing the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to move in forward and rearward directions relative to the first member in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise; and

second means for guiding the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to follow a forward-rearward reciprocating motion in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, the first and second means operating to permit each of the right and left foot engagement members to move, in response to the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps during the striding exercise, along a striding path having a user variable length of forward-rearward travel determined by the length of the striding steps actually used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise.

122. An exercise apparatus for use by a user performing a striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s feet with striding steps, comprising:

a right foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion arranged to support the right foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s right foot with the striding step;

a left foot engagement member having a first portion and a second portion arranged to support the left foot of the user thereon during the striding exercise with the user moving the user'"'"'s left foot with the striding step;

first means for supporting the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members to reciprocally move the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members with a vertical component of motion, while allowing the right and left foot engagement members to move horizontally relative to the first member in a user variable amount during the striding exercise; and

second means for supporting the second portions of the right and left foot engagement members to permit reciprocal movement of the right and left foot engagement members with a user variable amount of horizontal component of motion, the first and second means functioning to permit independent movement of the first portions of the right and left foot engagement members with the vertical components of motion and the right and left foot engagement members with the horizontal components of motion in response to the user applying an input energy to the right and left foot engagement members during the striding exercise by the user moving the user'"'"'s right and left feet with striding steps, the first and second means functioning to support the right and left foot engagement members to permit the right and left foot engagement members to move along a striding path having the user variable amount of horizontal components of motion corresponding to the length of the striding steps used by the user during the striding exercise and variable in response to changes in the length of the striding steps used by the user, such that the right and left foot engagement members move with the horizontal components of motion in the user variable amount to follow the horizontal movement of user'"'"'s right and left feet during the striding exercise even as the length of the striding steps used by the user changes during the striding exercise.