by Christine Hawthorne | Mar 4, 2017 | Instructor Training, Music
Ed Sheeran's album Divide has finally dropped! Hopefully you've enjoyed using Shape of You and Castle on The Hill (which both dropped earlier this year). Here are a few of the new tunes from the album and how you can use them in your classes!
Here are a few that would work great for a flat road:
Barcelona (around 100 rpm):
Barcelona iTunes link
Nancy Mulligan (around 103 rpm)-also a good one to save for your St. Patrick's Day playlist:
Nancy Mulligan iTunes Link
This one would make a great hill standing or seated (63 rpm):
Bibia Be Ye Ye iTunes link
And finally, a few ideas for your cool down/stretch:
Dive iTunes link
Perfect iTunes Link
by Christine Hawthorne | Feb 24, 2017 | Instructor Training, Music
When you're reaching the end of your class and your riders look like their losing their motivation, throw this song their way and they are sure to gain their second wind. You and your riders will love the amazing beat that trails in and out as the song progresses. (67 rpm) To use these teaching notes, make sure you are using the original version which clocks in at 6 minutes and 26 seconds. Here's the rundown:
:00 seated flat/ :30 standing climb, add gear every 15 seconds / 1:30 seated flat (recover) / 2:00 standing climb, add gear every 15 seconds / 3:00 seated flat (recover) / 3:30 standing climb, add gear every 15 seconds / 4:30 seated flat (recover)/ 5:00 standing climb, add gear every 15 seconds.
On your standing climb sets, start out on a moderate hill and and gear every 15 seconds until the final 15 is a very steep hill.
iTunes link On The Drums (Original Mix)
You could also use the remix with the same teaching notes- it has a bit of a different sound but is around the same length:
iTunes link On The Drums remix
by Christine Hawthorne | Feb 19, 2017 | Instructor Training, Music
I'm sure you've been hearing this song on the radio and in commercials recently and maybe you've considered using it in your next profile. I gave it a try last week and I'm here to tell you it was a huge hit! You will love the drum beat and the explosive chorus. We rode on a hill (64 rpm) and added resistance throughout. Add cadence in the final 30 for a big finish. Another option is to climb and then explode on the chorus (adding cadence at :56, 1:56 and 2:50).
Believer by Imagine Dragons iTunes link
by Christine Hawthorne | Feb 11, 2017 | Instructor Training, Music
I've been using Ed Sheeran's Shape of You quite a bit recently as a fast flat road in my classes (around 99-100 rpm). It's perfect for keeping your riders focused on maintaining those upper range rpm's. I like to challenge my riders to maintain the pace and try adding just a bit more resistance each minute.
Shape of You iTunes link
If you're looking for something a little different, try the Galantis Remix…:
Shape of You Galantis Remix iTunes link
…or even the acoustic version for a cool down/stretch:
Shape of You-Acoustic iTunes link
by Christine Hawthorne | Jan 27, 2017 | Instructor Training, Music
I used this song in my class recently and I got a ton of comments from my riders. It's a great cover and a classic that can be very versatile in your next ride. Heart's cover of Stairway to Heaven is considered by many to be one of the best. ( I really like Rodrigo y Gabriela's cover as well.) Start this one as a seated climb and bring it out of the saddle as the music picks up around 5:45 all the way to the finish. It's a nice long hill and your riders will be motivated to finish big on this one, I promise. ( If you haven't seen the video of Heart performing this one live at the Kennedy Center Honors back in 2012, be sure to check it out here. It's pretty amazing.)
iTunes link
