An elliptical exercise apparatus includes an upstanding support connected to a front end of a base support, a rail assembly provided on a rear end of the base support, a wheel assembly mounted on the front end of the base support, a swing rod connected pivotally to the upstanding support, a slide rod having a rear end slidable forwardly and rearwardly along the rail assembly and a front end connected pivotally to the wheel assembly, a pedal seat connected pivotally to the slide rod, a pedal member mounted slidably on the pedal seat, a first link rod having a front end connected pivotally to the swing rod and a rear end connected pivotally to the pedal seat, and a second link rod having a front end connected pivotally to the swing rod below the first link rod and a rear end fixed to the pedal member.

An exercise apparatus links rotation of left and right crank members to elliptical movement of left and right foot supporting members. Rollers on the cranks allow the foot supporting members to translate relative to the cranks, and crank driven linkage arrangements determine the extent of the translation.

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.

The present invention provides for a variable stride exercise device having a variable size close curved striding path during use. The exercise device described and depicted herein utilizes various configurations of linkage assemblies, cam members, and other components, connected with a frame to allow a user to dynamically vary his stride path during exercise. An exercise device conforming to aspects of the present invention provides a foot path that adapts to the change in stride length rather than forcing the user into a fixed size path. A user's exertion level may have several components impacting the stride length provided by the machine, such as leg power, torso power, and (in embodiments with arm supports or exercise components) arm power. Other embodiments of the exercise device include a lockout device that selectively eliminates the variable stride features of the exercise device and allows the user to exercise in a stepping motion.