Louisiana's Cajun and Creole Cycling Festival

Schedule:

April 3, 2024

Music during Cycle Zydeco

5:00 - 6:00 PM: Zydeco dance lessons with Moriah Istre inside at Wildcat Brothers

6:30 - 9:30 PM: Chubby Carrier and Bayou Swamp Band (Zydeco) at Wildcat Brothers

Check-In and Party

Wildcat Brothers Distillery at Gator Cove

Cycle Zydeco Tune-Up Party with dinner and a performance by Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band at Gator Cove. The exclusive party features dinner, dance lessons, concert, and distillery tours and rum sampling which are all included with your registration. Wear your Bracelet.

There are some riding options available to you on Wednesday, but it is not supported.  

Downtown and around town in Lafayette which can be as much as 18 miles (no road markings, use RideWithGPS app.  I recommend driving to downtown and park at St. John Cathedral School by the St. John Oak tree (515 St. John St., Lafayette, LA). Maps are at the bottom of this page.

The longer routes travel South toward New Iberia with a variety of distance options up to 56 miles.  The first 2 miles on Frontage Rd and Garber road are rough.  An option would be to drive to Parish Brewing then ride out from there.  Maps are at the bottom of this page.

We encourage you to join our RideWithGPS tour account and download the routes to your phone or GPS navigation device.

Shuttle Schedule:

2:00PM - 10:30PM - Between Lafayette hotels, long term parking  and Wildcat Brothers Distillery (expo party and start of ride)

12:00PM - 7:00PM: WELCOME TO CYCLE ZYDECO 2022!

Rider Check-In, Packet Pick up - Put on your CZ Bracelet.

Pre-ordered bicycle rental pick up.

Shipped bicycle pick up.

Pre-ordered merchandise pick up.

Campsite opens for tent campers and shower trailers available for campers

Overnight bicycle parking available.  Be sure to lock your bike in our designated parking area. There will be security there overnight.

12:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Cycle Zydeco Bar.  Lunch is not provided. Lunch is on your own. Check out your “Zydeco Buck$” for restaurants accepting Zydeco Buck$

Scavenger Hunt

3PM - 5PM Check-In

5PM - 6PM Prizes awarded

Register for Scavenger Hunt to win gift certificates and daily prizes!

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner on us
Wear your CZ wristband you picked up at registration.  Use your CZ Gift Card for adult beverage service.  Catered Dinner provided by : Cafe 20.3 Menu includes

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM: Live Music From Grammy Winners Chubby Carrier And The Bayou Swamp Band (Ticket Included With Your Cz Registration)

10:00 PM: Last Call

April 4, 2024

Main Route:  38 miles / 56km
Long Route:  65 miles / 105km

4 miles before the ride finishes in Breaux Bridge, you can take a 9 mile side trip to Lake Martin for a swamp tour.  There is a paved road to the lake (1.5 miles long) and there is a 5.5 mile gravel and dirt loop around the lake.  Distances above includes the 4 miles out and back.

Lafayette - Broussard - New Iberia - St. Martinville - Breaux Bridge
Breakfast Options: Breakfast is on your own. We recommend Cafe 20.3 on the Bayou (ZB$) and  Hub City Diner (not a ZB$ participant)

Starting from Wildcat Brothers Distillery at Gator Cove

7:30 AM - 10:00 AM:  Shuttle service between Wildcat Brothers Distillery and designated Lafayette hotels

7:00 AM - 9:30 AM- Lafayette hotels, long term parking and Bayou Wilderness RV Campground to Wildcat Brothers Distillery (start of  ride)

3:00 PM-11:00 PM - St. Bernard School to Microtel, Bayou Wilderness RV Campground, and Lafayette hotels

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Late check-in, packet pick-up, bicycle rentals and shipped bicycles pick-up.

7:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Luggage trailers will be staged at Wildcat Brothers. If you are camping or staying at Microtel in Breaux Bridge or Holiday Inn Express in Henderson on Thursday and Friday nights, then please drop off your luggage during this time only. If you are staying in a Lafayette hotel Thursday night, we suggest packing a small "day bag" with a towel and a change of clothes to put on the luggage truck. All luggage will be delivered to St. Bernard School in Breaux Bridge, the staging area for Thursday afternoon.

8:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Opening Ceremonies  Pre-ride jam and invocation with Father Brown.

10:30 AM: Allons Rouler - Let's Ride Y’all!

10:30 AM: This Is The Only Mass Start For Cycle Zydeco And Is Escorted By Police. All Riders Must Be Together At Wildcat Brothers Distillery.
The Main and Long routes will travel together to Broussard and after mile 16 the routes will separate. The routes will be well marked with paint and some vertical signage.  The Long route will travel to New Iberia then meet the Main Route in St. Martinville.

Broussard(10:45 AM):
Originally named Côte Gelée (Frozen Hills) because of its hilly ridge area and the severe winter of 1784, Broussard, La., was founded in 1884. It was named after Valsin Broussard, a prominent local merchant, who formed the first vigilante committee when his own store was robbed. He was also a direct descendant of Joseph Gaurhept Broussard de Beau Soleil, one of the first 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana on February 27, 1765, aboard the Santo Domingo.

In 2012 Broussard proclaimed the title  "Intergalactic Boudin Capital of Positive Infinity' after the Louisiana State Legislature designated Scott, LA as the “Boudin Capital of the World'.  The last day of the ride will bring you through Scott, LA where the Boudin Festival is taking place this weekend.  You will have plenty of opportunities to judge numerous purveyors of boudin over the next few days.  Check out Billeaud’s Meat and Grocery in Broussard for some great boudin.  Let us know who made the best Boudin!

Zydeco Buck Options:

BJ's Poorboys and Sandwiches (107 N. Morgan, Broussard, LA  70518)

Ton's Drive-In (101 W. Main St., Broussard, LA)

Billeaud’s Meat and Grocery (111 East Main St, Broussard, LA)

NEW IBERIA (11:30 AM TO 02:00 PM) Long Route Only
 According to James Lee Burke (famous novel writer), New Iberia, the Queen of the Teche, has the most beautiful downtown in America. The CZ water station is located at the museum and office of  the antebellum home, the Shadows on the Teche.  Take time relax and visit the mansion and its gardens (tours of the home are not avaiable in April). New Iberia is the birth place of Georges Rodrigue, the Blue Dog painter and creator. As a side note: Tony Bernard who has designed a couple of Cycle Zydeco jerseys in the past, was a student of Georges Rodrigue.  Iberia Parish was also the birth place for Governor Kathleen Blanco, the first and only women Governor of Louisiana.

ST. MARTINVILLE (11:30 AM TO 03:00 PM) All Routes
Nick named Petit Paris (Little Paris), St. Martinville was known as a cultural mecca with good hotels and a French theater, the Duchamp Opera House.  It is the third oldest town in Louisiana and some of the attraction include the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, the “Evangeline Oak' featured in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem of the Acadian expulsion.  Next to the Oak tree is the African American Museum and the Museum of Acadian Memorial ($5 entry fee).  In the museum you will find a 12’ by 30’ mural by Robert Dafford, depicting the arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana with a wall of 13,000 names taken from the original manifests of the boars.  Entry is $5 and museum is open 10:00 - 4:30.  Enjoy live music and lunch under the Evangeline Oak.

Zydeco Buck Options:  Robert’s Lounge (long time favorite of CZ riders),  Kajun King Restaurant  and  St. John Restaurant

Sha me nu (11:30 am to 2:00 pm) at the evangeline oak

Route water stations :

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: University of Louisiana Experimental Farm (Main and Long)

12:00 PM - 2:00PM: Shadows on the Teche (Long only)

11:30 PM - 3:00PM: St. Martinville Evangeline Oak tree with live music (Main and Long)

Thursday Destination:  Breaux Bridge
Ville de Pont-Breaux was founded in 1829 by Scholastique Picou Breaux.  In 1799 Agricole Breaux built a footbridge across the Bayou Têche to ease the passage across for his family and neighbors.  When traveling directions were given, residents would instruct people to “go to Breaux’s bridge.'  Breaux Bridge and crawfish have a long history.  Restaurants here were the first to offer crawfish on their menu and is the place were crawfish etoufee was created.  In 1959  the Louisiana House of Representatives designated Breaux Bridge as "La Capitale Mondiale de l’Écrevisse,"  the Crawfish Capital of the World.  Breaux Bridge hosts the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival held on the first weekend in May.

Shopping: Downtown host several antique, craft and art venues.  Walk around and explore the shopping opportunities.  Check out Once Upon a Wing (scavenger hunt) across from Tante Marie.  

2:00 PM - until:  Shower trucks, day bags and luggage will be available for you at St. Bernard School.

3:00 PM - 11:00 PM: Shuttle Services between St. Bernard School, Microtel, Wilderness RV Campground, and  Lafayette hotels..

2:00 PM - 5:30 PM:   Cycle Zydeco Bar at St. Bernard School.  Bring your CZ Gift Card included in rider packet!

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Zydeco dance lessons by moriah istre hargrave

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Live music  at St Bernard School  Rockin Dopsie Jr. and Zydeco Twister

Dinner:  Riders are on their own for dinner. Enjoy one of the many restaurants in downtown Breaux Bridge.

Zydeco Bucks Participating Restaurants:

Tante Marie (ZB$)

Cafe Sydnie Mae (ZB$)

Buck and Johnny’s (ZB$)

Chez Jacqueline (ZB$)

April 5, 2024

Breaux Bridge - Henderson - Catahoula - Lake Fausee Point

The Routes Are 100% Paved Roads.  However, You Can Ride The Tops Of The Levee If You Want Some Gravel/Lime Stone Riding In Your Day.

Main Route: 40mile /64 km

Long Route: 66 miles /106 km

SHORTEST ROUTE (W/ SWAMP TOUR): 22 miles /36 km

Shuttle services: Between hotels, Poche's  RV and St. Bernard School. There are no luggage trucks today since we will be returning to St. Bernard School in Breaux Bridge.

7:00 PM -9:00 PM - Microtel, Bayou Wilderness RV Campground, and Lafayette hotels to St. Bernard School

3:00 PM -11:00 PM - St. Bernard School to Microtel, Bayou Wilderness RV Campground, and Lafayette hotels

Ride overview:

Today you will be spending your time in America's largest wetland on your bike and by boat (McGee's Swamp Tours and Adventures).  Lots of small narrow roads with varying traffic will bring you to the edge of the Atchafalaya River.  If the mighty Mississippi River was allowed to meander then you would be sitting on the banks of the largest river in North America (2nd longest). If you want to do some gravel riding, you can jump atop the levees for outstanding views.  We will be riding along the levees on the Atchafalaya Basin today.  Some facts:

It is larger than the Florida Everglades

It's five times more productive than any other river basin in North America

About 65 species of reptiles and amphibians inhabit the Basin

Over 250 known species of birds fly in the Basin

Other species of animals found in the area include black bear, nutria, fox, muskrat, beaver, otter and raccoon

The Basin is home to the largest nesting concentration of bald eagles in the south central United States

There are more than 100 different species of fish and aquatic life in the Basin

The Basin has an estimated average annual commercial harvest of nearly 22 million pounds of crawfish

The Basin contains the largest contiguous bottomland hardwood forest in North America and is the largest overflow alluvial hardwood swamp in the United States

Long Route: Continues South from Catahoula (Red's Levee Bar) to Lake Fausse Point State Park

Breakfast
Use Zydeco Buck$ to eat in downtown Breaux Bridge:  Tante Marie, Cafe Syndie Mae, and Chez Jacqueline.  

Also check out Cajun Market Donuts to satisfy your sweet tooth, they also ship King Cakes

On site is complimentary Starbucks coffee, Coca-Cola, water and Powerade for everyone starting at 7:00am.

THE CZ BAR IS OPEN 7-9 WITH BLOODY MARIES, MIMOSAS, and POINSETTIAS

Swamp Tours
8:00A - 3:00P: SWAMP TOUR IN HENDERSON BY MCGEE'S SWAMP TOURS and ADVENTURES. LIVE MUSIC BY HUNTER COURVILLE 10:30 - 1:30

Lunch

There will be a few options for lunch and snacks along the ride.  

McGee's Swamp Tours and Adventures (ZB$) LIVE MUSIC from Hunter Courville

Food Trucks at McGee's -  Cafe 20.3 on the bayou (ZB$) and …

Red's Levee Bar in Catahoula (ZB$) (Opening at 9a for us) with LIVE MUSIC from Forest Huval (11a-2p)  -ON THE MENU - TBD

Pat's Fisherman's Wharf in Henderson

Rest Stops (Sag Stations):

8:30 AM - 2:30 PM: McGee's Swamp Tours and Adventures (All routes)  

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM:  Red's Levee Bar (All routes)

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Lake Fausse Point State Park (Long route)

Friday Destination: Returning To Breaux Bridge, La

2:00 PM: Shuttles start running between St. Bernard School, Lafayette hotels, Poche's RV, and Microtel Inn.

2:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Cycle Zydeco Bar is open at St. Bernard School.

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Live music at St Bernard School   Curly Taylor

11:00p: Shuttle service ends for the day.  Consider LYFT or UBER for late night service.

Part Time Partier / Weekend Warrior Check-In
3:00p - 7:30p check-in for weekend riders at St. Bernard School in Breaux Bridge. You can drop off your bike at St. Bernard School and Check-in, then drive and park your car at your Lafayette hotel and catch our shuttle back to downtown Breaux Bridge.  For route options, lodging, and parking info, please see the FAQ page "What is Weekend Warrior?”

Dinner (Breaux Bridge):

Tante Marie Restaurant-Cafe-Bar (ZB$)

Cafe Sydnie Mae's (ZB$)

Buck and Johnny's (ZB$)

Moo Cow Moo (ZB$)

Chez Jacqueline (ZB$)

Once Upon a Wing (ZB$) - ice cream, candy, olde tyme drinks and boutique

April 6, 2024

Breaux Bridge - Cecilia - Arnaudville - Leonville - Washington - Port Barre

Main Route:  44 miles / 64 km

Long Route:  62 miles / 100 km

XLong Route:  92 miles/ 148 km

Shuttle Schedule:

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM -  Microtel, Bayou Wilderness RV Campground, and Lafayette hotels to St. Bernard School

3:00 PM - 11:00 PM - St. Bernard School to Microtel, Bayou Wilderness RV Campground, and Lafayette hotels

Ride finishes back in Breaux Bridge where live music will await you!
There are not enough hours in this day from dancing to Cajun Comedy Magic show.  Dancing at Buck and Johnny’s world famous Zydeco breakfast  (8am) and enjoy the weekly Cajun Jam at Tante Marie (10am).  The ride will travel North and fun starts with VooDoo Adventures crawfishing tours ($10 and includes sample of crawfish etoufee and hay ride to see the larget tree in St. Martin Parish).  Next is  Fête de la Nature - BioBlitz and Crawfish Fundraiser in Cecilia (6a -11p) then next stop is Mr. Paul’s house, he and Al are serving complimentary jambalya after and a key stop is always Bayou Teche Brewing and Cajun Saucer Pizza where you can chill at the brewery, do a tour and eat some great pizza!   The brewery has something all.

After Arnaudville, you will experience smooth, winding, low traffic roads.  The further North you cycle the more you will experience.  You can easily make it a 52 mile day by cutting out the 10 mile loop on the Long  route North of Leonville and enjoy a wonderful winding ride along the Bayou Teche through a variety of crop fields including sugarcane growing all around you.  However, if you need more miles, there is a wonderful 30 mile loop traveling North to Washington and Port Barre.  This section is not marked nor supported.  We use them for our century ride Bikes, Brews and Omelettes Two and it is on our RideWithGPS account.

Ride overview:
7:00a: Shuttle services start between Hotels, Bayou Wilderness RV, and Breaux Bridge.

7:00a - 9:00p Breakfast Bar Open for Mimosas, Poinsettas, and Bloodie Maries.

Part Time Partier / Weekend Warrior Check-In
6:30a - 9:00a: check-in for weekend riders at St. Bernard School in Breaux Bridge. For route options, lodging and parking info

Breakfast
Use Zydeco Bucks to eat in downtown Breaux Bridge:  Tante Marie (Cajun Jam starts at 10am) , Buck and Johnny’s (Zydeco Breakfast starts at 8am), Café Syndie Mae, and Chez Jacqueline.

On site is complimentary Starbucks coffee, Cokes, water, and Powerade.

Lunch
You will have numerous options for lunch and snacks along the ride.   

Bio Blitz  Cecilia

Event schedule:

6-8 AM: Birds

8-10 AM: Arthropods

10-12PM: Amphibians, Reptiles andamp; Fishes

12-2PM: Lunch

12-2PM: Music by Wayne Singleton and Same Ol’ 2 Step

2-4PM: Plants and Fungus

4-5PM: Mammals

5-8PM: Set up tents, dinner break, fire, music jam,

8-10PM: Bat walk, nocturnal insects and night hike.

Bayou Teche Brewery and Cajun Saucer Stellar Pizza  Bar opens @ 10:00 and kitchen opens at 11:00 (ZB$) Arnaudville.  Put on your tropical shirt and grass skirt then relax with their Spring Tiki Cocktails and Tidbits menu, craft beer andlive surf music (Bruisers House of Surf 4-7).

The Little Big Cup  Arnaudville

Russell's Food Center in Arnaudville. Free Boudin samples for Zyclists!

Mr. Paul’s Yellow Farmhouse:  Complimentary food and beverages

Rest Stops (SAG stations) - Main, Short and Long routes

8:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Leonville (Long)

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Bayou Teche Brewery (Long and Main)

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: VooDoo Adventures (Long and Main)

Saturday Destination: Return To Breaux Bridge

3:00 PM: Shuttles start running between Lafayette hotels, Bayou Wilderness RV and Microtel

2:00 PM - 9:30 PM: Cycle Zydeco Bar at St Bernard with  and snacks

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Magic Mike Comedy Show in the Glass Room next to Buck and Johnny’s

6:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Live music around Breaux Bridge - Nathan Williams and Zydeco Cha Chas

11:00 PM : Shuttle service ends for the day.  Consider UBER or LYFT for further support

April 7, 2024

Breaux Bridge - Carencro - Sunset - Grand Coteau - Cankton - Scott - Lafayette

Main Route: 38 Miles / 61 km

Long Route: 67 Miles / 108 km

Overview
The Final day of Cycle Zydeco will not leave you wanting.  The Ride will offer stops in Carencro, Cankton, Sunset, Scott, and Lafayette.  Riders will travel North out of Breaux Bridge and through the old horse farm area of Lafayette with several operating farms still around.  The riders will then travel through Carencro and for those on the main route directly to Cankton, the Cankton Country Bar offers refreshing beaucoup Bloody Marys.  The long route will travel North to Grand Coteau, home to the only miracle in the U.S. recognized by the Vatican.  Riders head West to Sunset, the washboard capital of the world.  The route will take you by the haunted bridge and Chretien Point Plantation.  The long route will convene on Cankton Country Bar where you can meet up with your friends on the Main route and ride together to the city of Scott, the Boudin Capital of the world.  BOUDIN FESTIVAL IS HAPPENING!  There are several lunch options at this point.  From Scott, you will head to Cafe 20.3 on the Bayou crossing through Lafayette.  We will have a post-ride bowl of jambalaya waiting for you!  We will close the course at 2:00 pm and all SAG teams will head. We plan to pack up by 3:00 so all of our volunteers can enjoy the rest of the weekend.

6:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Shuttle services to St. Bernard School.

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Lafayette hotels, Microtel, and Bayou Wilderness RV Campgroun3d to St. Bernard School

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM: - Cafe 20.3 to Lafayette hotels, and Bayou Wilderness RV Campground

Breakfast
Café 20.3 on the Bayou (ZB$) offers a full breakfast line up of Bloody Marys, Mimosas, coffee, cocktails and more.

Some other options around the hotels are Hub City Diner

Rest Stops (SAG stations)

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Grand Coteau (Long)

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Cankton Country Bar (All)

10:00 AM - 1:30 PM: Boudin Festival (All)

On Route Zydeco Bucks:  

Cankton Country Bar for Bloody Marys!

Cafe 20.3 on the Bayou (open 7AM until the end of the game)

Your Zydeco Buck$ are good through Monday April 17th.  Feel free to visit locations you were not able to enjoy during the ride before you leave, You can find them all HERE.  

Finish at Cafe 20.3 on the Bayou (1500 General Mouton)
10:30a - 3:00p  Post ride activities at Cafe 20.3

shower truck

post-ride jambalaya and treats!

cash bar, merchandise, and lost and found

Rental bike and shipped bike return

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM:  Shuttle services between your hotels, Bayou Wilderness RV  and Cafe 20.3.

2:00 PM: Course is closed and all support teams are coming in.  If you are out on the course and need a ride, please contact LYFT or UBER.  

3:00 PM:  We are wrapping up and all of our volunteers are going to either celebrate or rest.  

Enjoy local music and dance the afternoon away.

Also, consider visiting:

Vermilionville only a half mile from Cafe 20.3.  Every Sunday is Le Bal du Dimanche (Sunday Dance) live music 1 PM - 4 PM.

Scott Boudin Festival: 11am Geno Delafose, 1:30 Ryan Foret, 4:00 Lil Nate

Date: April 3-7, 2024

Location: Various Towns in Louisiana

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