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.