Cross-country ski exercise device

Abstract

An exercise device for simulating cross-country skiing in which the user stands on a pair of footplates movably mounted on longitudinally extending rails of a base frame. U-shaped channels formed in the rails receive rollers mounted on the footplates to maintain engagement of said footplates with the rails. A belt is connected to the footplates and slideably extends about a plurality of rods mounted on the front and rear ends of the base frame, to reciprocate the footplates in unison in opposite directions along the rails. A tensioning bolt is mounted on one of the footplates and is connected to the belt for adjusting the resistance to the movement of said belt and footplates. A pair of levers which simulate ski poles are pivotally mounted on the front end of the frame. An adjustable resistance mechanism comprising a pair of plate members extends transversely across the front end of the frame and clampingly engages an extended end of each of the levers. A plurality of friction pads are positioned intermediate the plate members and the levers to provide frictional resistance to the pivotal movement of said levers. A centrally located adjustment bolt equally adjusts the gross resistance applied to the levers and arm movements of the user when reciprocating the levers, and a pair of outer adjustment bolts each selectively adjust the resistance applied to a respective one of the levers.