a treadmill having a frame with first and second rollers mounted at opposite ends of the frame and an endless tread belt placed about the rollers . the treadmill further including a flywheel attached to the frame and coupled to the first roller for rotatably driving the flywheel at a rate of rotation greater than the rate of rotation of the first roller . the coupling mechanism comprises a first drive wheel attached to the flywheel and a second drive wheel attached to the first roller with an endless drive belt placed around the drive wheels .