"I've always been very fit - no smoking, I watch what I eat and have a small red wine everyday."
The bike lane network around town was "absolutely necessary" but he has had several close misses with cars.
The busiest road he biked was the 3km from home along Maunganui Rd to New World.
"A lot of motorists don't give you any care at all. It can be dangerous - there's some crazy people on the road."
He gave up his car many years ago, after receiving brain damage during his navy service.
Mr Wallbank was an engine room engineer on the HMS Achilles for six years. "It was pretty hazardous," he said.
On one memorable trip back to England for a refit, the ship went through German bombing and "boy did they try to get the ship".
Once in England he said they spent most of the time waiting for the ship in air raid shelters which "ponged" because no one was able to bathe because there was no running water.
The HMS Achilles was involved in one the first battles of the war, the Battle of River Plate, and spent much of the war operating against Japanese forces in the southwest Pacific.
When Mr Wallbank returned to New Zealand after the war, he was given a returned serviceman's farm in Te Puke, with 150 dairy cows.
Since retiring in Mount Maunganui, getting on his bike every day has become a habit.
"I have the time, I'm in no hurry. Plus it's my only means of transport."
HMS Achilles
- A Leander-class flight cruiser weighing 7270 tons, 169m length and capable of 32 knots
- Armed with eight 152mm guns in four turrets, four 102mm secondary guns and eight 533mm torpedo tubes
- Was on loan to New Zealand from the British Navy