Street Strider:The Biggest Loser's Next Great Workout?

Fans of The Biggest Loser may have noticed an exotic addition to the show recently: The 2010 StreetStrider.

Like a cross between an elongated tricycle, a Razor scooter and a gym elliptical trainer, the StreetStider consists of a light frame with two small wheels in front and one large wheel in back. Riders stand on the ski-like platforms and stride their legs in a stretched out oval motion. The movement is part jogging, part cycling -- and part something completely new for an outdoor exercise machine.

If the Biggest Loser contestants are any indication, StreetStriding will be the next big fitness craze. They tested the machine behind the scenes for over two seasons, zipping around obstacle courses and pumping up hills. Although contestants had usually lost a good deal of weight before climbing aboard, most of them were still on the heftier side so Dave Kraus, the inventor and president of StreetStrider International, thinks their feedback was especially useful in helping in working out the kinks and perfecting the motion for the average person.

"We're really hoping to re-energize people of all shapes and sizes by providing them with a cutting edge product that's safe, rigorous and low impact," he says.

So far some impressive (though preliminary) data points to a great workout. Casual striding burns between 300-600 calories per hour depending upon how much you weigh, the terrain you cover and how much effort you put behind your stride; that's equivalent to a brisk jog but with far less pounding on the joints. And because you shift your body from side to side in order to stay upright and steer, striding involves virtually every muscle in the body as it fine tunes balance and full body coordination.

It's worth noting that striding has some special advantages for overweight exercisers. Many find it too challenging to carry all of their body weight long enough to sustain a jog or walk for more than a few minutes at a time and outdoor bike seats are often too small for comfort. The spacious frame and supportive handlebars remove those barriers. According to Kraus, there isn't much of a learning curve either. "Usually it's once around the parking lot and you get the hang of it," he notes.

The 2010 StreetStrider ETX Biggest Loser Edition (the product's full name) retails for $1999. It's currently available in fitness specialty stores worldwide and online at the product's website, www.streetstrider.com.

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and co-author of "The Fat-Free Truth."She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider. You can also follow her on Twitter @lizzyfit.