A riding lawn mower comprising: a cutting deck housing a cutting blade; an engine; a deck drive coupled to the engine to receive power for operating the cutting blade; and a ground drive coupled to the engine to receive power for movement of the riding lawn mower over ground; and characterised by further comprising: a friction drive coupling the deck drive to the engine; wherein the friction drive comprises a flywheel coupled to the engine and configured to selectively provide power to the deck drive and the ground drive, the flywheel including a neutral bearing system (136, 336); wherein the flywheel is coupled to the ground drive via a friction wheel (140, 340); wherein the flywheel comprises a substantially disc shaped face disposed to engage at least a portion of the friction wheel (140, 340) to impart motion on the friction wheel (140, 340) responsive to rotation of the flywheel when the flywheel contacts the friction wheel (140, 340); and wherein the neutral bearing system (136, 336) is disposed proximate to an axis of rotation of the flywheel to prevent frictional engagement of the flywheel and the friction wheel (140, 340) at a portion of the flywheel that is covered by a cover plate of the neutral bearing system (136, 336). a cutting deck housing a cutting blade; an engine; a deck drive coupled to the engine to receive power for operating the cutting blade; and a ground drive coupled to the engine to receive power for movement of the riding lawn mower over ground; and characterised by further comprising: a friction drive coupling the deck drive to the engine; wherein the friction drive comprises a flywheel coupled to the engine and configured to selectively provide power to the deck drive and the ground drive, the flywheel including a neutral bearing system (136, 336); wherein the flywheel is coupled to the ground drive via a friction wheel (140, 340); wherein the flywheel comprises a substantially disc shaped face disposed to engage at least a portion of the friction wheel (140, 340) to impart motion on the friction wheel (140, 340) responsive to rotation of the flywheel when the flywheel contacts the friction wheel (140, 340); and wherein the neutral bearing system (136, 336) is disposed proximate to an axis of rotation of the flywheel to prevent frictional engagement of the flywheel and the friction wheel (140, 340) at a portion of the flywheel that is covered by a cover plate of the neutral bearing system (136, 336). a friction drive coupling the deck drive to the engine; wherein the friction drive comprises a flywheel coupled to the engine and configured to selectively provide power to the deck drive and the ground drive, the flywheel including a neutral bearing system (136, 336); wherein the flywheel is coupled to the ground drive via a friction wheel (140, 340); wherein the flywheel comprises a substantially disc shaped face disposed to engage at least a portion of the friction wheel (140, 340) to impart motion on the friction wheel (140, 340) responsive to rotation of the flywheel when the flywheel contacts the friction wheel (140, 340); and wherein the neutral bearing system (136, 336) is disposed proximate to an axis of rotation of the flywheel to prevent frictional engagement of the flywheel and the friction wheel (140, 340) at a portion of the flywheel that is covered by a cover plate of the neutral bearing system (136, 336).