Here's a crappy paint drawing;
On a second class lever, shorter X is, the closer the load is to the fulcrum, which makes it easier to lift.
On a bike it's the same, except for the fact the bars start higher, same principle.
On a second class lever, the longer Y is, the further the effort is from the fulcrum, which on other levers, would decrease the amount of effort needed, on a second class, it's all about the load and where it's placed. So if you use X, the farther the effort is from the load, the easier it is to lift.
On a bike, you get a transverse affect. Because by moving the effort forward and up, instead of along in a straight line, you move the load along with the effort, so it becomes more spread out, with load now directly opposing the effort on the bars.
If it makes sense?