During the Cycle Zydeco Kickoff Party, registration packets will be available for pickup on Wednesday, March 26th from 4:00-5:30 p.m. If you do not pick up your packet at Vermilionville then you can pick up your packet at the front desk of the Best Western Hotel Acadiana on March 26th from 9:30 p.m. until the next morning before the ride starts. Your registration packet will contain your wristband, luggage tags, maps and cue sheets and other materials. T-shirts will also be distributed with the packets. You must wear a wristband at all times for entry to all meal and evening functions. The luggage tags will help you identify your belongings.

During March, a typical weather forecast calls for temperatures in the 70's to 80's during the day, dropping to the 60's and 70's at night. Showers can pop up, so be prepared for rain. Also, be prepared for cooler temperatures as Louisiana weather can vary widely.

If you would like to ship your bicycle, click below for details:
Bike Shipment Form

Cycle Zydeco organizers are not aware of any businesses which rent bicycles in the Lafayette area.

Use this checklist while packing to make sure that you have everything you'll need. Remember, you are limited to two duffle bags that are not to exceed a total maximum weight of 40 lbs.
Approved helmet (mandatory)
cycling gloves
towels and wash cloth
handlebar or seat bag, tent and ground cloth
frame-mounted bicycle pump
lightweight sleeping bag and sheet
spare tube, tire tools, patch kit
air mattress or sleeping pad
2 large water bottles
flashlight with fresh batteries
bike lock and cable
clothespins
cycling shorts
medication / Advil
walking shorts
first-aid kit
off-bike shirts
insect, gnat, and tick repellent
cycling shirts
identification
bandannas
medical insurance card
underwear
camera and film and fresh batteries
socks
sunscreen & lip balm
off-bike shoes or sandals
zip-lock bags to keep clothes dry
swimwear
rain gear / jacket
foam ear plugs for sleeping
toilet paper
riding shoes
Kleenex packs
cycling gloves
money
rear view mirror
pillow
credit card
toiletries/soap
duffle bag, distinctively labeled or painted
sunglasses
.... and a bicycle, of course

The registration fee entitles you to a Atchafalaya Swamp Boat Tour at McGees Landing on Friday morning (new event), souvenir t-shirt, maps and cue sheets, marked routes, tent camping or gym camping, complimentary meals (TBA), nightly live Cajun or Zydeco bands, hot showers, bathrooms, sag wagon support, bike repair support (parts are extra), baggage transportation to the overnight campsites, shuttles to hotels and B&B?s on list.

The registration schedule and fees are as follows:
Entry Fee: $320.00
Discounted Entry Fee for 2007 Riders: $295.00
Refund Deadline: February 27, 2008
Refund Fee: $30.00

Everyone must register and pay the entry fees for the event, if you are riding or not. Everyone will receive a wristband with their ride packet that allows access to meal functions, shuttle service and evening activities.

We have a Regional Airport here in Lafayette (LFT). New Orleans International (MSY) is a two hour drive from here and there is no connection between Lafayette and New Orleans. Houston Int'l (HOU) is a 4 hour drive from here. Consider flying into Lafayette, we have connections from Memphis, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta with Continental, Northwest, Delta, and American Airlines.

Flat, flat and more flat. There aren't too many hills in South Louisiana!

A combination of indoor and outdoor camping is available at all of the school campsites. You have a choice of either sleeping inside school gyms or camping on the school grounds. A shower truck with HOT water is provided! You will need a sleeping bag, pad and/or blanket, tent and other camping necessities. See Bike Tour Checklist for details.

A list of accommodations serviced by the shuttle are optional. Official Cycle Zydeco vehicles will provide personal transportation to/from your lodging. If you are staying in motels, we recommend that you pack a small bag for overnight items to remove from your large bag due to space constraints. Many of the suggested accommodations are within biking or walking distance. If you bike to motels, again take only the items you will need with you and leave your big bag at the overnight site.

Drivers need to drive to the end of the ride to the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau on either the afternoon of March 26th or the morning of the start of the ride, March 27th. Drivers will leave your car parked in the secured location and buses will be provided back to the host hotel, Hotel Acadiana. Driving distance from Lafayette to Grand Coteau is approximately 35 - 40 minutes. The shuttle will leave Grand Coteau on March 26th @ 4:00 p.m. so you will need to get to Grand Coteau by 3:45 p.m. On the morning of March 27th, the shuttle will leave Grand Coteau @ 8:05 a.m., you must leave on Thursday morning no later than 7:00 a.m. to the end point of the ride (Sacred Heart). Please be prompt! A bus will be available at the Academy to get you back to the start of the ride. Please send one person per vehicle and have other members of your party stay at the start, Hotel Acadiana, with your bikes. A post ride party will take place at the Academy at the end of the ride. From here, if you have driven you can leave straight from Grand Coteau. If you are taking a flight back home, a shuttle will be provided at 2:00 p.m. only (no later) back to the Lafayette Regional Airport and Hotel Acadiana.

HAVE A QUESTION?
E-mail your question to us at cyclezydeco@lafayettetravel.com