Laggard, Noun – def: one who's hanging back, or falling behind.
I admit it. My internal, unspoken motto has been, ‘if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it’. I did not walk until I was 16 months old- crawling was fine with me. What can I say?
As you might imagine, John has made fun of my music ‘process’ for years. Here is generally how it went:
Gather CD’s, or order and wait for them from the library
Listen through them on impossibly long commute to day job
Note good songs
Download to itunes
Make playlists on itunes
Burn playlist to CD
Just recently, download playlist to ipod
I started to feel the pain of my laggard like ways. Much like I must have felt when I finally started to walk, I felt the need to update my music process.
My jump into Spotify-land has been so much fun. No more having to order CD’s and wait for them to come in. No more downloading and burning.
The process is so simple. The details on getting started are here. I love to go to Spotify, put in a band or song name and have ALL the titles pop up. I love that my playlist is on my phone. No more CD’s (this is only a problem when I drop my phone in the toilet!) Even more than that, I love saying to my students, ‘If there is a song you would like to hear in class, just let me know and I can pop it into a future ride, no problem!’
Thank you, John, for making fun of me and ultimately making me feel enough pain to update my music process. I am so happy.
If you have not tried Spotify, do. I think you will like it!
Like a good man-a good flat is sometimes hard to find 🙂
Got one for you this week though. Daughter Abby (our oldest) is STILL home from college and asked me to listen to this artist, as she is going to her concert in February.
She reminds me a bit of Alicia Keyes. Lots of soul and great musicality. Quite new to the music scene, her first album was released in October 2012, so you might not have heard of her… yet.
My latest profile is 3 climbs to AT with a flat in between. We are not recovering on the flats, but simply going back to ‘base’ watts at high zone 2/ low zone 3, which we established early in our ride. I have been using ‘Til the Casket Drops’ by ZZ Ward for one of the flat roads in between the climbs. At 3:06, and 88 rpm’s, it is the perfect back-to-your-base motivational flat road tune.
While shopping for workout wear last weekend, I heard this fantastic song, and thought, “This would make for a phenomenal climb”. Luckily, I had my trusty phone with me and was able to Shazam it (prior to dropping said trusty phone in the toilet later that day, drying it out and it thankfully working again).
This 4:30, 68 rpm climb is haunting and motivating all at the same time. Having already used it twice this week, I have been asked a number of times what the song is and who sings it. Natasha Khan, known by her stage name as Bat for Lashes is captivating singing “All Your Gold” from her latest album, The Haunted Man.
John wrote last week about being freed from no longer needing to find ‘long songs’ for riding playlists. I agree, but it is so satisfying to find one that works well musically – for a specific training purpose. This great 68 rpm song coming in at 5 minutes and 52 seconds serves up a perfect climb situation in which to hold cadence and add load (and watch watts go up!)
Here’s how I have been coaching “Hanging On”, by Active Child: We set cadence at 68 rpm’s and initial load where work is sustained around T1. After the first :52, I coach to hold cadence steady at 68, and have them add load each minute and notice changes in HR/watts and breathing. By the end of 5 load adds, we are working well past T2 and putting up some big watts. No power meters? No problem. Coach to the 68 rpm music rhythm for a steady pedal cadence and HR monitors or perceived exertion.
Active Child’s (the working name of electric artist Pat Grossi) Hanging On:
Ellie Goulding also does an interesting version of this song, but it is only 3:22.
John's note: I heard/Shazamed this during the Victoria's Secret fashion show the other night. I just love Ellie's big sound in this cover – Turn It Up!
But be careful – there's a foul version of this song that includes Rapper Tinie Tempah that totally wrecks it – what was she thinking?.
Moxie Cycling apparel was featured last January on Podcast #195 where a number of ICI/PRO members participated in a focus group, giving feedback about the new cycling jerseys from Moxie.
Fast-forward nine months and business is so good that Moxie Cycling's founder Brooke Freiborg with tells me they are ready to expand – and that means they need help… from some very special people 🙂
Who we’re looking for:
An established, motivated rep who understands the with women’s cycling. Generous commission potential.
Who we are:
Moxie Cycling is a women’s specific cycling apparel company leading the evolution to bring a woman’s unique needs to the forefront of cycling apparel. Ultra comfortable, performance oriented, and stylish women’s cycling apparel by and for women with moxie.
Quick stats:
– Fast growing company with distribution in 15 states in first year of business
– Differentiated premium product with strong sell-through
– 100% retention with 2012 dealer base
– Established distribution with mass retailers: REI, Team Estrogen, and Scheels
– Founders committed to innovation, exceptional customer service with “people before profits,” involvement in cycling community
ICI/PRO is devoted to providing a platform to elevate talented people. So if you're talented and looking or are looking for talented people, please contact us.
