zī-də-kō

Folklore says the word evolved from the old Créole saying, “Les haricots ne sont pas salés”. This translates to “the snap beans aren’t salty” - a way of expressing hard times.

The academic interpretation (and the one we favor) finds the word rooted in one of the many African words “zaico, zodico, zari, zarico, or zaico laga laga,” all being different variations of “dance”.

Zydeco music is the sound of South Louisiana and a staple of the culture. It blends French accordion with Afro-Caribbean beats, traditionally played on a washboard. The genre has grown to include elements of the blues, RnB, gospel, and more.

Worried about your endurance? Don’t sweat it! Rides are designed to be flat and easy with plenty of stops along the way. Party your way to the finish line and save your legs for the dance floor. Eat, dance, drink, ride - in that order.

Some riders will be new to cycling while others are traveling across the country. Regardless of your level, you will have plenty of company traveling at your own pace.

Daily routes include a "Main Route" of about 40 miles (64km) and a "Long Route" of 62+ miles (100km). They are all road and super FLAT. The biggest climb is 72 feet over 40 miles so saying the ride is a gradual climb over rollers is an overstatement.

If your bike or legs give out on you, the support team will be on the road to give you (and your bike) a ride to the next destination.

No fancy gear? No problem! We see lots of hybrids, cruisers, tandems, triple tandems, mountain bikes, fat tires, trikes, recumbents and more. You can even hop on an e-bike for an extra boost. There hasn’t been a unicycle yet but anything is fair game!

Check out our collection of rentals to find a ride or save you the trouble of shipping your bike.

Cycle Zydeco is a 5-day festival where you just so happen to ride a bike. Each day offers a combination of live music, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, swamp tours, crawfish boils, guided hikes, historical landmarks, and more.

Join us in a celebration of Cajun and Créole culture. This is Louisiana’s biggest party on wheels!

Did you know?… Louisiana’s wetlands are the largest in the US. Our history, culture, and economy are all shaped by the unique terrain.

Festival International de Louisiane is the largest international music festival in the US. Attend for FREE Wednesday (April 23) through Sunday (April 27).


We’ll be in Lafayette on Wednesday and Sunday so getting to the festival grounds will only take a few minutes by Uber or bike. Thursday through Saturday, take a 20-minute car ride from base camp in Breaux Bridge.