Welcome to Cycle Zydeco 2024

Wednesday, April 3rd (DAY ZERO)

Check-In & Party

Wildcat Brothers Distillery @ Gator Cove

2601 SE Evangeline Thruway, Lafayette, LA 70508

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.

PARKING FOR BIKES & CARS:

• You can lock your bike Wednesday night to one of our racks outside at Wildcat Brothers (Overnight security will be provided).

• Parking along Frontage road is permitted.

• LTP

Cycling Options:

We have put together a Lafayette townie ride and a long ride South towards New Iberia. You can easily modify the routes so you can pick your distances. Please use RideWithGPS to get turn by turn instructions. See the bottom of this page for maps.

The Lafayette townie route covers the Azalea Trail (blooms in March), Downtown Lafayette & University of Louisiana riding opportunities: variety of loops that total 17 miles.

The long rides South to New Iberia distance options are up to 56 miles, but you can easily carve the route up to make distances of 11 miles up to 56 miles. Consider driving out to Parish Brewery and starting the ride from there to avoid some rough roads on the Frontage Hwy.

DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE & SURROUNDING AREA:

CHECK IN then check OUT lafayette. most everything on this list is easily accessible by bike or car, use DAY 0 MAP FOR HELP GETTING AROUND. HERE ARE SOME OF THE SIGHTS AND SHOPPING WE WOULD SUGGEST:

• Jump on a bus with Marie and experience Cajun Food Tours.

• Chill at Borden’s Ice Cream Parlor (ZB$).

• Enjoy world acclaimed poor boys at Olde Tyme Grocery (ZB$) (hurry they are closed on Sundays).

• Sit on the banks of the Vermilion River while you enjoy beer and boudin egg rolls at Cafe 20.3 (ZB$). Cycle Zydeco participants can enjoy complimentary paddling.

• Grab a link of Boudin at Johnson’s Boucanière (ZB$) (Hurry! Closed Sundays). After a wonderful Louisiana snack, you can stroll through St. John cemetery over to the Oak tree.

• The University of Louisiana's campus to check out the Hilliard Art Museum. At this two-story, contemporary art museum, you will discover thought-provoking, exquisite visual arts from artists all over the world! Art lovers should plan extra time to explore these great exhibits.

• Did you know that University of Louisiana is the only university in the United States with a managed wetland on its campus? You don't want to miss Cypress Lake! Walk to the back of the student union to find the boardwalk, where you can spend some time in the sunshine, watching the cranes, turtles, and even the alligators!  

• Visit St. John Cathedral & Oak tree (oldest Oak in the area).

• Be the reason “Y” and take a picture in Parc Sans Souci’s monument to the city. Also check out the monuments remembering 911.

• Shop at Parish Ink for creatively inspired local gear (the printer of this years CZ t-shirt.

• View and photo all of the murals downtown which were mostly painted by Internationally renowned artist, Robert Dafford. He has painted hundreds of murals around N. America including the iconic clarinet on the side of Holiday Inn in New Orleans next to the Super Dome. Click here to start your tour of Lafayette’s murals.

• Jump in the car and head North to Work up an appetite down the road at Rustic Renegade and get in a round of tomahawk throwing or just to peruse the weapon, coffees, and other collectibles then head up the road to Prejean’s restaurant .

• Enjoy some Gelato at Carpe Diem.

• Enjoy a glass of Absinthe and some tapas at Pamplona’s

• Stroll or ride through Moncus Park, Lafayette’s newly created 100 acre central park. It is just down the road from Dean-o’s Pizza’s Bertrand location, so you can walk or ride off the meal.

• After the park, you can visit Tony Bernard’s Studio & Gallery next door in the South College Shopping Center. Tony worked for George Rodrigues and is the artist whose art can be some on some CZ jerseys of the past

• Enjoy some of the best pizza at Dean-O’s Pizza‘s two locations

• Visit Vermilionville, a 23-acre historic and folklife park along the banks of the Bayou Vermilion that depicts the Acadian, Creole and Native American cultures from the time period 1765 – 1890. This historic village features guided tours, costumed artisans, live music, cooking school, dance lessons, boat tours, and a gift shop that will leave you overjoyed with history and culture.