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B-B-Biking in Vallarta by Mark Callanan summer-fall/2000 What do rock'n roll roadies do when they retire? Most go to homes for the hearing impaired, but Bobby Lampaert probably made the most original transition of his ilk when he left backstage for the backroads and started life afresh as a mountain-bike outfitter here in Vallarta. B-B-Bobby's Bikes (he considers his stutter his trademark) has been serving locals and tourists for five years, not just as a bike-tour-and-rental business, but as a focal point for all bicycle-related activities. If you haven't been cycling for a while, you will be pleasantly surprised by the performance of a modern bicycle. Bobby uses Specialized brand bikes exclusively and keeps his extensive inventory up-to-date with all the latest developments. Twenty-seven easily selected gears are now standard and make even the steepest hills climbable. Shock absorbers front and back improve traction, stability, safety and provide a level of cycling comfort never seen before. Brakes are responsive and effective. The ease of handling makes the sport accessible to all age groups and only demands a reasonable level of fitness. As Bobby says, "many of our tours and rentals are to forty year olds; most are over thirty, and riders in their fifties and sixties are not uncommon". "Single-track" is the catch-cry of all dedicated mountain bikers and Bobby has pioneered some great routes around Vallarta and in the sierras. To meet the demand of his more adventurous clients, Bobby is constantly exploring new territory. Full-day and half-day guided or self-guided tours take in some great locations around the bay or up into the river valleys. Rewards for the inevitable sweat of the biking are many, whether they be an elevated view, a cooling plunge in a jungle pool or a swim at an isolated beach. A basic excursion would typically involve a round-trip of no more than twenty kilometers with less than a thousand feet of climb and the downhill version of the same. For the more intrepid, overnight trips offer a rarer view of the biking potential of the area. Clients become friends and spread the good word about B-B-Bobby 's Bikes through the Internet and by articles in industry magazines like Adventure Cycling (July 98) and Bicycling Magazine (Oct. 99).

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