A drive system for use in a bicycle or the like, which includes a manually-operable member and a drive train connected to the member for transferring drive from the member to at least one of the bicycle wheels. The member is mounted for substantially rectilinear reciprocating movement on a lever system having a first lever, a second lever and a tie rod. The first lever has a first end connected to a first pivot and a second end that is rotatable about the first pivot. The second lever has a first end that is pivotably connected to the second end of the first lever and a second end to which the manually-operable member is attached. As for the tie rod, it has a first end pivotably connected to the a second pivot and a second end that is pivotably connected to the second lever between the first and second ends thereof. The first lever is constructed and arranged for limited reciprocating rotation of the second end about the first pivot.