An exercise bike

Abstract

An exercise bike ( 1 ) comprising: a base ( 2 ); a frame ( 3 ); a handlebar ( 4 ); a tilt angle sensor ( 5 ); a steering angle sensor ( 6 ); and a processor ( 7 ), wherein: the frame ( 3 ) is rotatably mounted to the base ( 2 ), and wherein the tilt angle sensor ( 5 ) is configured to measure a tilt angle of the frame ( 3 ) relative to the base ( 2 ); the handlebar ( 4 ) is mounted to the frame ( 3 ), and wherein the steering angle sensor ( 6 ) is configured to measure a steering angle of the handlebar ( 4 ); and the processor ( 7 ) is configured to provide an output based on a combination of the measured tilt angle and steering angle.

1 . An exercise bike comprising:
 a base;   a frame;   a handlebar;   a tilt angle sensor;   a steering angle sensor; and   a processor, wherein:
 the frame is rotatably mounted to the base, and wherein the tilt angle sensor is configured to measure a tilt angle of the frame relative to the base; 
 the handlebar is mounted to the frame, and wherein the steering angle sensor is configured to measure a steering angle of the handlebar; and 
 the processor is configured to provide an output based on a combination of the measured tilt angle and steering angle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise bike of  claim 1  wherein:
 the tilt angle sensor is configured to measure the tilt angle relative to a frame datum position in which the frame is arranged substantially perpendicular relative to the base; and 
 the steering angle sensor is configured to measure the steering angle relative to a handlebar datum position in which the handlebar is arranged substantially perpendicular to the frame. 
 
     
     
         3 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the output is based on a combination of X % of the measured tilt angle and Y % of the measured steering angle. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the combination is based on the value(s) of the measured tilt angle and/or the measured steering angle. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the output is based on a combination of X % of the measured tilt angle and Y % of the measured steering angle, wherein the value of X is based on the measured tilt angle and/or the value of Y is based on the measured steering angle. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the combination is based on the relative difference between the measured tilt angle and the measured steering angle. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the output is based on a combination of X % of the tilt angle (θ) and Y % of the steering angle (α), wherein:
     X=aθ   b , wherein ‘ a ’ and ‘ b ’ are predetermined; and
 
     Y=cα   d , wherein ‘ c ’ and ‘ d ’ are predetermined.
 
 
     
     
         8 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configurable in use such that the combination of the measured tilt angle and the measured steering angle are configurable by the user. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the output is configured for controlling a graphic, simulation program, video game or other media. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a head tube and a steering stem rotatably received in the head tube; the handlebar mounted to the steering stem such that the user may apply a torque to the steering stem by rotating the handlebar. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein a resilient handlebar mounting is provided between the frame and handlebar, configured to bias the handlebar towards the handlebar datum position in which the handlebar is arranged substantially perpendicular to the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the handlebar is removably mounted to the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein a resilient frame mounting is provided between the base and frame configured to bias the frame towards the frame datum position in which the frame is arranged substantially perpendicular relative to the base. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism and/or flywheel. 
     
     
         15 . A sensing system for use with a bike comprising:
 at least one sensor, for attachment to the bike in use and configured to measure a tilt angle and a steering angle of the bike; and   a processor configured to provide an output based on a combination of the measured tilt angle and steering angle.   
     
     
         16 . The sensing system according to  claim 15 , comprising a tilt angle sensor configured to measure a tilt angle of the bike, and a steering angle sensor configured to measure a steering angle of a handlebar of the bike. 
     
     
         17 . An arrangement comprising:
 a bike configured to tilt, the bike comprising a rotatable handlebar; and   the sensing system comprising at least one sensor, for attachment to the bike in use and configured to measure a tilt angle and a steering angle of the bike, and a processor configured to provide an output based on a combination of the measured tilt angle and steering angle, the sensing system mounted to the bike, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged to measure a tilt angle and a steering angle of the bike.