BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Outdoor cycling is one of the most common fitness activities in the world. Modern road bicycles are designed to travel at high speeds over varied terrain by using light materials and sophisticated gearing. Nonetheless, it is the rider who is responsible for supplying power to the drivetrain. Road cyclists vary greatly in ability and goals.

Competitive cyclists may train over long distances and many hours to obtain the desired training effect. Contrary to activities such as running, road cycling results in significant intervals when power output is low due to changes in terrain. Competitive cyclists may increase their training effect by riding on hills that naturally increase riding resistance.

Recreational cyclists frequently ride in a group, but it is often difficult for riders of different abilities to stay together. Riding outside has other disadvantages such as the risks associated with riding long distances on streets with traffic and uneven road surfaces. Cold weather also limits the riding season for many cyclists as the wind chill from riding at relatively high speeds can make the activity uncomfortable.

For these reasons, many cyclists now ride indoors, affixing their bikes to magnetic resistance trainers. While safe and warm, this activity is considered boring by many. Social platforms have arisen that seek to emulate group riding and make the activity more social and competitive.

So, despite the numerous cycling products that have developed over time, there remains a need for a system that can offer the outdoor cycling experience yet minimize disadvantages such as those described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided in accordance with one aspect of the invention a resistance training device, configured for mounting on a bicycle and imposing resistance to motion without interfering with the ability of the bicycle to travel along the ground, in response to pedaling by a rider. The resistance training device thus provides some of the features on an indoor stationary training device and at the same time enables the rider to experience those features while actually travelling along a road, track or trail.

The resistance training device includes a support; a connector on the support for connection to a bicycle frame; and a roller configured to frictionally engage a wheel on the bicycle when the connector is connected to the frame. A conductive disc is configured to rotate in response to rotation of the roller. The device further includes a source of a magnetic field; and a control, for increasing or decreasing exposure of the disc to the magnetic field. The performance of the rolling bicycle is thus influenced by the effects of a frictionless eddy current damper which, when engaged, increases the effort required to be exerted by the rider to sustain a given speed, compared to when the eddy current damper is disengaged.

The source may be at least one electromagnet, or at least one permanent magnet. In some embodiments, the source may be at least six or 12 or 18 or more permanent magnets. The permanent magnets may be supported by a frame, which may be movable between a first relationship with the disc, and a second, different relationship with the disc. The first relationship exposes the disc to a first magnetic field intensity, and the second relationship exposes the disc to a second, lower magnetic field intensity, which lower intensity may be approximately zero. The first relationship may position the disc between at least two opposing magnets. The wheel may have a first axis of rotation, and the frame is pivotable about a second axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation.

The connector may be configured for connection to the bicycle such as by connection to a seat tube or a seat post on the bicycle. The connector may have a tool less quick connect lever.

The resistance training device may further comprise a plurality of fins for dissipating heat. The roller and the conductive disc may be coaxial. The control may be mounted to the frame or to the bicycle such as being configured for mounting to a handlebar.

The resistance training device may additionally include a protective guard adjacent the conductive disc, to prevent contact between the rider or clothing and the disc which can become hot.

The resistance training device may also include a controller for increasing or decreasing exposure of the disc to the magnetic field in accordance with a preselected pattern. At least one sensor may be provided, such as a gyroscope, accelerometer, altimeter, GPS, wind sensor, thermometer, inclination sensor, or sensors for collecting data (e.g., force, compression, torque, time and angle) which enables the calculation of power exerted, for capturing data relating to one or more parameters of load and/or performance. Any of a variety of wireless protocol transmitters (e.g., Bluetooth, ANT, ANT+) may be provided for transmitting data to a remote device such as a smart phone or power meter, which may be carried on a handlebar. In some embodiments, the resistance training device further comprises a power supply such as at least one battery, capacitor or generator for generating electricity in response to movement such as rotation of a component on the bicycle.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a resistance training device configured to provide the rider with a virtual experience of riding a preselected course. The previously described resistance training device is further provided with a processor, configured to receive data representing features of a selected route, and to generate control signals which modify the resistance to cause the bicycle to perform such that the rider has the same experience as though they were actually riding on the preselected route. The data representing features of a selected route may be stored in a memory in direct wired communication with the processor, in a remote device such as a smart phone, or in the cloud.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a first resistance training device is configured to provide a first rider with a virtual competition with a second rider of a bicycle equipped with a second resistance training device. The first and second riders each download a common preselected course, and begin a ride. Performance data from the second rider may be wirelessly received by the resistance training system of the first rider (by the first rider's smart phone or receiver in an electronics module carried by the resistance training device) and vice versa, to allow each to monitor the other's performance. The riders may be travelling on the same actual physical course at the same or different times, or may be geographically remote from each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a first resistance training device is configured to provide a first rider with a variable resistance level to compensate for strength or power differences between the first rider and a second rider of a bicycle which may or may not be equipped with a second resistance training device. In one implementation, the first resistance training device is provided with a proximity sensor (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, RFID) for determining the proximity of the second rider. The second rider may have a source of a signal that is detectable by the proximity sensor. The first resistance training device is configured to elevate the resistance in response to increasing distance between the two riders, to slow the stronger first rider and keep the riders in close physical proximity while allowing the first rider to experience a higher level of exertion.

There is provided in a further aspect of the invention, a dynamic, electronically enabled training system, for providing a virtual riding experience to a rider who is actually riding on a different riding course. The system comprises a user powered vehicle such as a bicycle comprising at least one wheel configured to move and drive the vehicle forward along the ground when the user powered vehicle moves in response to exertion by the rider. A memory is configured to store one or more virtual digital routes along which the user powered vehicle is configured to simulate travel. A variable resistance unit is configured to apply a variable resistance to movement of the at least one wheel; and a processor is communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to receive a feature of one virtual digital route of the one or more virtual digital routes that the user powered vehicle is traveling, receive an input from a sensor coupled to the user powered vehicle, and generate a signal to adjust the variable resistance of the variable resistance unit to simulate load conditions corresponding to the virtual digital route.

