In an exercise apparatus having a frame that is adapted for placement on
the floor, a pivot axle supported by the frame, a pair of pedal levers,
pedals secured to the pedal levers, arm handles connected for motion with
the pedal levers and which can utilize a variety of pedal actuation
assemblies for generating elliptical motion of the pedal, the stride
length portion of the elliptical motion can be increased automatically as
a function of exercise parameters such as speed. In addition, the arm
handles can be disconnected manually or automatically from the pedal
levers.