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Mountain Bike Treadmill

Gives a real simulated off-road workout
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Attach your own mountain bike to this treadmill with special spring-loaded straps or bars that allow some left/right and front/back tipping, while never allowing the bike to fall. Some slack is needed so you still have to exert all the normal effort to remain moving "forward" (i.e., so you don't just get dragged along the track).

The track would be about double the width of a standard treadmill. The key thing about the idea is how it would be able to present a constantly varying array of bumps and angles, much like those cool climbing wall treadmills do.

The electronic display, along with the usual difficulty and speed settings, will display the virtual next 50 feet ahead to better simulate off-road riding. Full use of the bike's functionality is expected -- the need to shift gears, brake, etc.

There would be a controller for changing the speed that hooks up to the handbrake, so voluntary stopping of the machine is realistically combined with stopping the bike itself.

hinkle, Jul 12 2002

Treadmill Bike baked http://www.bikeforest.com/tread/index.php
Thistreadmill bike takes you off-road [Pellepeloton, Oct 14 2006]

[link]






       Happiness takes many forms.
reensure, Jul 12 2002
  

       There are really climbing wall treadmills? If you're going too fast/slow you could move off onto a free-turning conveyor belt ahead/behind the treadmill. Or the treadmill would sense that you're drifting from the center area and adjust the speed accordingly.
FarmerJohn, Jul 12 2002
  

       Devices exist that are simply two sets of rollers that the bike wheels set on, allowing one to pedal away and remain stationary. (assuming you were stationary to begin with, in Newtonian tradition).
waugsqueke, Jul 15 2002
  

       I think that [hinkle] is envisaging pseudo-random bumps and potholes on the 'track'; perhaps these could be realised using computer-controlled deformable rollers filled with the standard Halfbakery material.
angel, Jul 15 2002
  

       Why not make a Buckin' Bronco Bike? Link the seat to the pedals, hang onto the bike with one hand via a rope and see if you can stay on it down a hill. Don't forget your cowboy helmet.
FarmerJohn, Jul 15 2002
  

       This could be used in bike shops to test-ride bikes, just like those ski-slope machines in ski shops.
MichaelW, Jul 15 2002
  

       [angel] has it right -- re-creating the off-road experience is what I was going for. Staying stationary within two sets of rollers doesn't cut it. One problem, I think: with running treadmills, the belt goes 'round and you have to keep up. I wonder if the bike treadmill would be better if it responded to the speed of pedaling, and simply kept up with the rider. Otherwise, you'd be having a "downhill" experience the whole time.   

       The bike shop demo idea is a perfect use.   

       [FarmerJohn] - yes, they have a climbing wall treadmill at ESPN Zone. It's cool.
hinkle, Jul 15 2002
  

       how about putting a spedometer on the bike that's hooked up to the treadmill, it can set it's own speed. or maybe a speed control that you can clip to your handlebar
BikBear, May 08 2004
  
      
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