73 Years Apart: From 4 to 77, Whaka 100 riders prove mountain biking has no age limit

When four-year-old Harvey Lette lines up for the Whaka 100 Mountain Bike Marathon this weekend, he'll have something in common with 77-year-old Trevor Swindells: neither of them had gears on their first bike.

For Harvey, it's called a balance bike. For Trevor, it's called the 1960s.

The 73-year gap between the event's youngest and oldest riders is what the Whaka 100 is all about - everyone's welcome, everyone has a go, and nobody cares if you're still working on your motor skills or your knees aren't quite what they used to be.

This Labour Weekend, more than 3,500 riders from across the globe will be gearing up to tackle Rotorua’s world-class trails at the Whakarewarewa Forest in what is the biggest Whaka 100 event to date.

Among those riders is Harvey, taking on the Kids 5km Fun Ride race, while Trevor will compete in the Stan’s 25km race, continuing a cycling journey that began over 60 years ago.

Trevor’s love for cycling began in the 1960s when, as a 13-year-old, he got his first bicycle, a 26-inch gearless Raleigh.

“Very few people had gears of the sort back then. Nowadays, it's a lot easier to ride with all these gears and fancy equipment,” he said.
That bicycle carried him on his paper runs, to school and eventually on his 8km commute to work as a teacher. More than sixty years on, he’s still riding, with no intentions of slowing down.

“I have an e-bike now that I’m getting older. My knees aren’t as good as they used to be, so my e-bike helps with longer rides,” Trevor said.

Harvey also has no intention of slowing down. His mother Charelle described nearly having a heart attack at the rate he shoots down mountains, with his shoulder-length hair flying behind him.

“He refuses to let me cut it because it’s a tribute to his idol, Erik Fedko, a German mountain bike rider,” Charelle laughed.

“Harvey just flies down mountains, but you just have to embrace that your kids are out having fun and trust their abilities.”

Harvey's mountain biking journey began before he could even walk, strapped to the front of Charelle’s bike at just nine months old. He ditched his training wheels at three-years-old after an encounter with professional Australian mountain bike rider Bailey Mears.

Harvey’s family spotted Mears at a mountain bike festival last year when Harvey marched up to him and announced he could ride his bike without training wheels. Mears' response? Send video proof of himself riding through a forest, and he'd send the youngster a free Dharco kit.

Days later, Harvey hooned through a forest trail without training wheels, earning his free mountain biking kit. Now at four, Harvey has his sights set on the Whaka 100.

“He’s small but mighty, our little Harvey,” said Charelle. “He’s just fearless, he’s not scared of a challenge. Anything involving bikes, that kid is there and into it.”

Much of Harvey's motivation comes from his six-year-old brother Noah, who is also competing in the Whaka 100 over the weekend.
"Anything his big brother is doing, Harvey wants to be doing it too," Charelle said. "The tracks for Whaka 100 are so great, and the atmosphere is incredible. Harvey can't wait - he's absolutely fizzing for it."

For Charelle, watching her sons embrace mountain biking has been incredibly encouraging, particularly with how welcoming the community has been.

"The mountain biking community is just so incredibly supportive. I have no doubt that mountain biking for both of my boys is going to be a big part of their future as it's become part of their identity."

While Harvey is just beginning his cycling journey, Trevor is still going strong after six decades of cycling.

Since his first Whaka 100 race in 2019, where he completed the 25km course, he's eagerly returned every year, with the exception of a Covid cancellation and when skin cancer treatment forced him to the sidelines one year.

"I had an operation, so I couldn't ride, which was annoying. I had to stand and watch everyone go past," Trevor laughed.

Despite the occasional setback, including a broken wrist from a crash years ago, nothing keeps Trevor off his bike for long. He still rides 20km several times a week for dog-walking duties.

"It's hard going sometimes, but it's fitness. I just enjoy the freedom of getting out there and going at my own pace. There are so many tracks you can ride in Rotorua, and you can take your time or go like mad,” he said.

His motivation isn't about podium finishes or personal bests but the simple joy of being outdoors and exercising with others who share his passion.

"The Whaka 100 attracts a whole group of like-minded people trying to do the same thing; get to the other end. There's a range of ages and sizes. It's a great weekend. Everyone is there because they want to be there."

As Harvey and Trevor gear up for race day, they prove what the Whaka 100 has always stood for: if you’ve got two wheels and the will, age is just a number.

“The Whaka 100 is a ‘bucket list’ event for mountain-bike riders all over the globe,” said Event Spokesperson Matt Thompson.
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“The event’s signature terrain combines endless single-track with relentless climbs and descents. It’s tough but rewarding. You won’t know whether to cry with happiness or pain. You’ll most likely do both.”