An exercise device can include a pair of pedal members, each of which can
be rotatably connected on at least one end to a planet gear that is
rotatable about a sun gear on each side of the device. The pedal members
and the planet gears can be rotated to provide an elliptical exercise
motion. The device can include a mechanism for simultaneously rotating
each of the sun gears together to change the orientation of the
elliptical exercise motion relative to a user. The orientation of an
elliptical exercise motion can be changed dynamically from one
orientation to another, for example, from horizontal to uphill or
downhill, during a particular workout period. The exercise device can
change the orientation of an elliptical exercise motion while maintaining
a user's ankles at a substantially constant angle during the exercise
cycle.