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Liz Proctor

02 Dec 2010

Drink and ride: League of Gentlemen organiser Graeme Cooper

Queenstown’s wacky League of Gentlemen mountain bike summer series starts tonight – but it’s not all about riding.

After hooning down and up Bob’s Peak tracks, punters must go to watering hole Pub on Wharf and guzzle a pint to finish.

About 70 are expected.

Organiser Graeme Cooper says it’s hard to beat a free beer after a tough ride but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
“It’s always quite hard downing beer when you’re gagging for breath.”

This year it hits the road, with an Alexandra Super D added to the

The Series

Das Uber D - Downhill, up again then beer scull finish
Top of Skyline helipad, Pub on Wharf, Tonight, 7pm
Pump Track Party - Pumping rollers and bbq, Jardines, Kelvin Heights, December 16, 7pm
Snakes in the Grass - Slalom mountain bike-style, Frankton Beach, January 6, 7pm
Really Railing Rally Race with Pin it to Swim It
Self-timed time trials and best of 7 Mile before flog to lake
Seven Mile Reserve, January 20, 7pm
Chainless DH - Chainless charge directly downhill Skyline, February 3, 7pm
King and Queen of Skippers
First to bottom canyon sprint
Vertigo provide transport
$5 entry fee, Skippers Canyon
February 17, 7pm
Super D - Touch of uphill, more of down, Alexandra, March 3, 7pm
Meagreavalanche - Mad downhill dash, Skyline, March 12, 4pm
Das Uber D Fancy Dress
Wacky garb as well, Skyline
March 17, 7pm

list of quirky events, which include Meagreavalanche – a “piss-take” of the extreme French Megavalanche, which starts on a glacier.

“They get a couple of thousand people turn up every year, and we get about 20,” Cooper says, but he adds the races are gaining in popularity.

“It’s gone from just the hardcore Queenstown crew here year-round to people here for summer heading along to as many events as they can.”

The $2 event entry fee goes to the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club.

Meanwhile, bikers and walkers can sample new terrain with the opening of the $1.4 million Gibbston River Trail this Saturday.

After the 11am opening at Peregrine Wines, bikers and walkers will take different sections to finish back at the winery for a community picnic and concert.