Abstract: An exercise device absorbs work during both to, as well as fro, motion of an exercise handle. In both cases, the work is imparted to a flywheel which drives a braking mechanism capable of resisting the work at any predetermined selected level over a range of choice. A pair of drive racks each provide a linear gear coupled with a pair of pinion gears integral with rotational clutches on a drive shaft. A first of the clutches is configured to engage with the drive shaft when it is driven to rotate in one direction of rotation, while freewheeling in the opposite direction, while the other of the clutches is configured in reverse to the first. As the racks move in a first linear direction, one of the pinion gears drives the shaft, and the flywheel to which it is attached, while the other of a the pinion gears freewheels. When the racks move in the opposite direction, the roles of the pinion gears are reversed.