Today I bring you something a bit different. A very intense, fully orchestrated 65 bpm climb that starts out very strong and then backs off at 1:59 for a quick quiet segment (which you know I love for queuing opportunities). We never lose intensity though, even in the short quiet segment. And then…bam!!! 3:30 comes along and the beautiful build starts and really hits at 3:45 to the finish at 4:27. I am so looking forward to using this X-Men First Class Soundtrack #11 (X-training) in my Thanksgiving class. I am co-teaching a 90 minute class with someone you might know…his name is John Macgowan. I gotta put together a good class for that morning! I don’t want everyone thinking he is the only one that can work them hard.
I never imagined I would love a song that started out with a piano and Conn electronic organ, but I do. The instrumental layers and vocal harmonies of this AMERICAN (finally!) soul/indie pop band from LA are so interesting. I could suggest most of the songs off the CD, Pickin Up the Pieces by Fitz and the Tantrums, but I picked out “Tighter” for today’s Friday Favorite. It is a 60 rpm, 4:56 climb that I use as my last profile climb before heading into our final flat and recovery. The song builds nicely and at 3:05 breaks open with beautiful vocals and supporting strings for a great final push.
I hope you like it as much as I do. Here is Fitz and the Tantrums and “Tighter”:
What the heck happened to September and October?
Oh well..
Another British band makes the list for today’s Friday Favorite. Their sound and versatility is so interesting. I first heard them on “Grey’s Anatomy” and I tracked down the season’s soundtrack to get this particular song. It is the perfect length (5:27 ) and rpm’s (69) for a moderate effort climb. The title track from the “How We Operate” CD by Gomez is today’s tune. I like the musical layers…especially the banjo. Give it a listen and see what you think. I’m going to explore more by this band.
Moxie is founded by Brooke Freiborg and Deb Amorde, two hard working entrepreneurs here in Minnesota who have designed performance cycling apparel that meets the unique needs of women.
Brooke and Deb have seen great success with their new jerseys and with the weather turning cold, they’re eager to introduce them to Indoor Cyclists. These smart women recognize that most all the major apparel brands offer a special Instructor Discount Program. So, beginning November 14thMoxie Cycling will be offering PRO members a special 40% discount on their fabulous line of cycling apparel.
I wore my cute diamond jersey for the very first time to my 715 am class this morning. Guess what? My class was awake!!! Upon entering the studio, three women immediately commented on how cute my “shirt” was. They REALLY loved it when they found out it was a cycling jersey. Four more women after class also commented on how much they liked it. (Could this also be a commentary on the boredom level of my current workout wardrobe?) I then taught my Barbell Strength class and had to give the Moxie information to a participant going on a bike trip next weekend!
Here's the great thing: to kick things off, Brooke and Deb at Moxie Cycling Co. would like some feedback from five ICI/PRO members (sorry guys- we have been buying scaled down men's jerseys long enough!) who would be willing to teach 3-4 classes and submit a good picture of you wearing your free Moxie Cycling Co. jersey. We are also asking that you participate in a recorded focus group call with me, Brooke and Deb mid-November over Skype. Because of the difficulty coordinating a call over widely spaced time zones we can only accept testers in North America.
Sound good? If you would like to participate please leave a comment below. We will then contact you by email for your shipping info.
I like to interject songs into my playlist that people may find vaguely familiar but may not be able to put their finger on. It’s fun to watch them try to figure out who the band is while working away on their pedal stroke and heart rate/power training. This is one of those “B-side” tunes. It is an oldie, but at goodie, from Electric Light Orchestra’s 1981 VINYL album, Time! “Ticket to the Moon” is 4:09, with rpm at 82. I am using it after a fairly intense climb- to bring HR back down closer to T1 and ride a road simulating around a 3% grade. Nice instrumental breaks occur throughout the song for variety about every 30 seconds or so.
Here is ELO and “Ticket to the Moon”: (What were YOU doing back in 1971-1986 when they were in their prime???)
