Jeff “Harry” Harris | A Lifetime on the Track and Beyond
There are many disciplines in cycling, but track cycling holds a special place in Jeff Harris’s heart. Jeff has not only raced on the track but also competed in road racing and criterium racing, and he enjoys social mountain biking and gravel rides through the magic Tweed Valley. It’s a sport he grew up with and inherited from his father, Brian, who was himself an accomplished cyclist.
Photo above: 1976 Brian Harris – Racing
Photo below: Brian Harris at the Nerang Velodrome in 2020
At 75 , Brian Harris still takes every chance to hop on the bike! 
After Jeff’s first significant win, a race report in the local paper’s sports section — written by journalist Max Scott — referred to him as “the son of Brian Harris, one of the finest pedallers to come out of Otago, New Zealand, since WWII.” Jeff still laughs when telling this story today, a light-hearted reminder of his cycling roots and the family legacy that continues to inspire him.
Jeff has been riding fixed-wheel track bikes since he was just 10 years old and, at 56, continues to take part in the Gold Coast Cycling Club’s 100-lapper every Thursday night, riding behind the motorbike at the Nerang Velodrome — a 365-metre outdoor track on the Gold Coast.
Riding a fixed-gear bike is both a technical art and a physical challenge. Riding fixed-gear track bikes requires excellent bike-handling skills, quick reactions, precise pedalling technique, speed, and a little craziness. Unlike standard road bikes, a track bike has no brakes and only one gear — meaning the rider’s legs are in constant motion. Every pedal stroke is directly connected to the wheels, demanding full control, balance, and precise timing. Riders must master slowing down through leg resistance, holding tight lines on steeply banked turns, and maintaining smooth cadence at high speed.
These technical skills form a foundation that many of the world’s greatest cyclists have built upon. Several cyclists have achieved success in both track and road racing, including Bradley Wiggins, who won Olympic golds on the track and a Tour de France, and Mark Cavendish, a track world champion who also claimed multiple Grand Tour stage victories. Other examples include Filippo Ganna, renowned for his pursuit and time-trial dominance, and Australian riders such as Mark Renshaw and Brad McGee, who transitioned from track triumphs to impressive professional road careers.
In 1985, Jeff became a three-time New Zealand Under-16 Track Champion, and in 2004, he went on to win both the Queensland and Australian 35–39-year-old track championships — milestones that reflect decades of discipline, precision, and passion for the sport.
Jeff often jokes that he’s probably completed more laps at the Nerang Velodrome than anyone else over the past 30 years. His motto?
“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
From the velodrome to the Rail Trail, Jeff continues to share his enthusiasm for cycling with riders of all ages — proving that whether it’s racing behind a motorbike or helping someone choose their first e-bike, the joy of riding never fades.
That philosophy extends beyond the track. Jeff’s lifelong passion for bikes naturally carried over into the idea of running his own bike shop — Cabarita Beach Cycles, established in 2007 — which he built together with his business and life partner Rachel.
Today, the venture has evolved into a thriving bike hire and retail operation on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, welcoming riders from all walks of life.