Allons Roulee' bike ride planned for Labor Day weekend

    Roll through historic St. Landry Parish as St. Landry Parish Krewe de Velo’, a local group of cycling enthusiast,  presents the inaugural Allons Roulee’ Bike Ride on Saturday, September 3, beginning at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square in downtown Opelousas.  The two routes, 25 and 50 miles, will offer riders scenic landscapes including moss-draped oaks, winding bayous, pastures with grazing cattle, prairie lands and former Native American tribal lands.

    The ride, which encompasses the City of Opelousas and the towns of Washington, Leonville and Arnaudville, is being held in conjunction with the annual Zydeco Breakfast on the Courthouse Square. After the ride, participants can feast on boudin and refreshments and tap their toes to the sounds of zydeco music provided by the Same Ol’ 2 Step band or enjoy a post ride brunch at some of the nearby downtown restaurants.

   The Zydeco Breakfast takes place from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Sept. 3.

    Sag stops for the bike ride will be located at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, just off I-49 at exit 23. Start times are 7 a.m. for the 50-mile and 8 a.m. for the 25-mile ride.  Participants can pre-register for the event. The entry fee is a nominal $15 which includes an official event t-shirt and post-ride refreshments. The event is geared to riders 16 and older and various cycling levels.

    Allons Roulee’ is being presented by St. Landry Parish Krewe de Velo’, LHC Group, Opelousas Main Street, Inc. and St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission as well as a host of businesses providing support. Event assistance is also being provided by Opelousas Police Department, Opelousas Tourism and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. 

    In the spring of 2009, a handful of indoor cycling enthusiasts from St. Landry Parish set out on a course to give road cycling a try. Some six months later, the same group had grown from less than a dozen to over 30 riders. 

    Two years later, that number is still growing strong with organized rides taking place on early Sunday mornings and frequently on Saturdays. 

    For more information about weekend ride times and about Allons Roulee,’ contact Jennifer at jenncas@bellsouth.net or 337-945-4969 or visit the Krewe de Velo page on Facebook. Event information is also available at www.lafayettefitness.org