A relaxed, 6-mile ride on the mostly flat Gravois Greenway may not sound like a full-body workout, but have you ever tried it on an ElliptiGO stand-up bike? I have, and I can tell you that my core, quads, shoulders, and arms were feeling the love.

The 8C is all about low-impact cardio fitness, like a next-generation elliptical trainer without the electrical plug tethering you inside the gym. Instead, I zipped along the tree-lined path at speeds up to 20 mph. “That’s cool!” “Look at that!” “How does it feel?” The responses from other trail users were constant.

As you might guess, the center of gravity was different than a bicycle, but it took me only about 30 seconds to find the balance. The key is to get some momentum going; it’s more of a forward running motion than a circular, pedaling one. As soon as I nailed that down, it was smooth sailing and lots of smiles. Stopping took some getting used to — you’re pretty high up there — but again, it all came together with a few repetitions.

The ElliptiGO’s eight-speed cassette with traditional trigger shifter let me optimize power on hills and straightaways with no problem. The adjustable foot trays are long and wide, so you can easily reposition your feet to find the most efficient, comfortable stride, or to activate different muscles. Same goes for the handlebar and adjustable steering column, which can be tweaked for a custom fit.

I was told I’d feel like I was “running on air”, and that’s a pretty good description. No wonder a lot of professional runners use the ElliptiGO as a supplemental training tool. I’m no marathoner, but as a guy with knee issues, I appreciated the glide factor and sense of weightlessness. Plus, it’s one heck of a lot faster and more fun than pounding pavement. $2,699. pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/st-louis

Author: Brad Kovach is the editor/publisher of Terrain Magazine.