Important Information for Cycle Zydeco 2022
Please be sure to read this information at least once, in its entirety before checking in with Padre's Cycle Inn.
Arrival in Lafayette and Check-In
Camp in Lafayette will be set up by 4pm on Wednesday, April 20. We’ll be camping at Blackham Colliseum in Lafayette. You’ll see the Padre’s Cycle Inn flag and trailer, along with our village of tents. If you are having trouble locating camp, feel free to contact Dave at 314-283-0765. When you arrive in camp, just come to the table under the canopies to get checked in.
Wristbands and Baggage
When you check in, you’ll receive your tent number. Inside your tent, you will find a packet with a wristband and two baggage tags for Padre’s Cycle Inn, each with your tent number. If you are sharing a tent, you will find two packets inside the tent - one for each person. Please verify that you have two baggage tags and one wristband, and that the number written on these matches the tent number you were assigned. These items are in addition to your event wristbands. These signify that you are a Padre's rider. Only Padre's riders are permitted in the Padre’s Zone or to use any of our amenities. Please attach your baggage tags to your two bags as soon as you enter camp, using the zip ties included in your packet. Please also wear your Padre’s wristband all week.
Each rider is allowed two bags, each weighing 40 lbs or less. As you begin to pack, you'll realize that you’ll have ample space for what you need. Remember, you don't need to pack a tent, mattress, pump, chair, or even towels. These are all provided for you. So, what you really end up needing to bring will be less than you may think. If you are undecided between one and two bags, opt for two and split the weight up. Consider saving some space to come back with souvenirs you may acquire throughout the week. As with any camping event, we could have bad weather at times. We’ll do our best to store luggage in a dry location, but at times it’s impossible to keep everything clean and dry. We recommend you keep this in mind when bringing luggage and when packing your bags. If your bag isn’t weatherproof you may want to pack your items in zip lock or other bags inside your luggage. You may also want to avoid bringing luggage that you don’t want to get dirty.
You should pack your baggage as if you were boarding a plane. Since all baggage goes into a truck or trailer, Padre's cannot transport items not in a bag or case designed for transport. Additional fees may be assessed for overweight baggage or loose items, so be sure to weigh your items before you arrive. If you absolutely need to be over the limit, contact us in advance to make special arrangements. All checked bags must have a Padre's Baggage Tag affixed with the provided zip tie. Please note that overweight bags, extra bags, untagged bags, and/or loose items are subject to a $75 extra baggage fee per item.
Tents and Mattresses
You will have a high-quality Kelty tent with a twin size air mattress, fully set up for you daily. You’ll use the same tent and mattress each day, and your tent number will be on your Padre’s wristband. You should have no issues with your tent, but if you do, please find a Padre's crew member. Crew members will be easy to spot in their bright yellow Padre's shirts or vests. Any crew member should be able to help you resolve any issues. If your air mattress needs more air when you first enter your tent, please write your tent number on the "Mattress Top-Offs" board on the front of the trailer, and those will be topped off before bed time. If you have an issue with your air mattress in the middle of the night, there will also be handheld inflators set out each night in the zone, if you need to top yours off. Keep in mind that if your air mattress is slightly deflated by morning this is normal; it does not mean your mattress is defective. However, if you wake up on the ground, please let us know! We want you to have the best rest possible. It’s a good idea to check your air mattress when you arrive at camp each day. This way, if there is an issue, we can get it resolved before you are ready to retire for the night. You’ll need to bring your own bedding. We recommend a set of twin mattress sheets, blanket or sleeping bag, and a pillow. For reference, the mattress dimensions are about 75”x39”x10”.
Please do not wear cycling cleats inside your tent. The cleats will damage the bottom, which will result in you waking up with water on your tent floor if it rains. It's best to remove any shoes before entering. It will prevent dragging in grass and debris into your home-for-the-week. A pair of flip-flops works in camp, as you can easily slip them off and on.. Please do not eat, drink, or smoke inside the tent. Open food inside the tent will attract ants, and you’ll have them in your tent all week. We’ve seen issues with food attracting ants on past events, so please be careful.
Padre’s Zone
After a long day’s ride, you’ll enjoy the Padre’s Zone. Under our canopies or shade trees, you’ll find a chair to sit in, complimentary snacks and refreshments, fans, and more. Our goal is to have this area setup each day by 3 pm and to have your tents and luggage ready to go by 4 pm. This area is where you’ll also find our electronics charging station. There will be more outlets than riders, so everyone should have an outlet to use at any given time. But please remove your electronics once they are fully charged. Please note that your phone will charge faster if powered off while charging. The charging station is not monitored, so please do not leave your items unattended. Padre’s is not responsible for lost or damaged items left on the charging station. The charging station will run from approximately 6:30 am until 8:30 am, and from the afternoon until around 9:00 pm. These times may vary each day. Each morning, in the same area, you will find freshly brewed coffee. There will also be water, ice, and sports drink powder. All of these are complementary as well. One cooler will be solely for ice. When getting ice from the cooler, please use the ice scoop, and sanitize your hands before doing so to avoid the spread of germs. Do not grab ice while wearing cycling gloves.
Bikes, Racks, and Maintenance
We will have bike racks for Padre’s riders to hang your bike each day. This is the best place to put your bike while in camp. Please do not bring your bike inside your tent or lean it against your tent. This can damage the tent and get grease inside, which will ultimately end up on you and your things. If you have mechanical issues with your bike, there will be a maintenance stand available for you to use, along with a limited set of tools to borrow. Please do not move the tools from the maintenance area. Your used shower towel will work well for wiping things off at this time, and you’ll have plenty of dust and grit from the ride each day. We will also have several bike pumps available. Please keep the bike pumps in the maintenance area as well, so that we can keep track of them.
Showers and Towels
Each evening, you'll be provided with two new shower towels. The towels are eco-friendly, recycled, and disposable. But have no fear; we have used these towels many years with virtually no complaints. The towels are strong and absorbent, but to ensure that they do the trick, you'll get two daily. Save a used towel after your shower. They are ideal for wiping your bike or other gear down in the morning or should you need to work on your bike at any time. Don’t forget to grab your towels on your way to the showers each evening!
Daily Check-Out
Our crew will begin breaking camp around 7 am most days. Please plan to be out of your tent with your gear no later than 8:00 am most days. (We will remain at the St Bernard school in Breaux Bridge for two nights so the first morning at St Bernard we will not be breaking camp.) When you are finished inside your tent, please open the valve on your air mattress. This will allow the mattress to self-deflate by the time the crew breaks down your tent. Do not fold or roll the mattress up. Just let it lay flat in its place. Also, please have your gear out of your tent as early as you can so that the crew knows your tent is ready to be taken down. In order for our crew to break camp, transport everything to the next town, and have the next camp ready for you, we must begin taking tents down as early as possible.
Final Day Procedures
On the last day, we will shuttle all bags to the designated area at Blackham Coliseum. The bags should be with the other Cycle Zydeco rider bags and will have your normal luggage tags/bands on them. We'll update you at the Saturday evening meeting with any changes or additional details on the luggage location. We will be breaking camp while you are riding the final day so your gear will need to be packed up and removed from your tent before you leave for the ride. We hope to be on our way back to St Louis before many riders finish so be sure to pack your towels in your gear Sunday morning so that you can shower when you return to Lafayette.
Meetings
We will have two meetings; the first meeting will be on Wednesday at 5:00 pm. If you are interested in this meeting, please plan to be in the Padre’s Zone, at the trailer, at 5:00 pm. There will be an additional meeting on Saturday at 5:00 pm. This meeting will explain how to access your luggage the last day and any other information you may need for the final day. Please try to attend.
Gratuity
Gratuity is not included in your registration fee. However, there will be a tip jar out in the relaxation area at the end of the week. If you feel your staff has done a good job for you, feel free to show them your appreciation with a cash tip.
Suggested Items
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