What? Were you really expecting a Top 25 Indoor Cycling Songs? Maybe even a Top 50? Remember, this is ICI/PRO and we like to do things BIG! To close out a spectacular year, we’re asking you, the best Indoor Cycling Instructors in the world, to join forces and create a list of your favorite songs for 2010. But here’s the catch. In addition to providing the title and artist, you must also describe HOW you teach that epic gem!
When our goal is reached, (one song per post) the list will be edited, organized, chilled and served to perfection. It’s our way of saying THANK YOU for a tremendous year!
UPDATE! Have you seen our new: BEST 404 Indoor Cycling Songs list? It's free to subscribers to our email newsletter. Click here to join now.
Here are my three favorites from 2010…..now it’s your turn!
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Doctor Werewolf Mix) www.soundcloud.com
Enjoy this powerful 7 minute remix of a classic. Establish a seated climb until 3:29. From 3:29-4:29, I tell students to prepare both their bike and mind for an all out attack just seconds ahead. At 4:29, transition to a standing climb and unleash, increasing cadence for 2 minutes. I count down last 8 beats to end the song. Search for Doctor Werewolf on Soundcloud and click the download tab.
P. Diddy with Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) — Come with Me (Godzilla soundtrack)
Create a grinding seated climb for 3-1/2 minutes, staying in the saddle if possible or taking a few steps out for switchbacks. At 3:39, during the very quiet moments of this song, whisper to your class, “There’s a jersey ahead of you…let’s explode out of the saddle and wave as you make the pass.” At 4:32, increase your voice tempo/volume, and slam it out for 90 seconds.
Dylan Rhymes and Jono Fernandez featuring Seany B. — Breathe (General Midi Remix) www.amazon.com. This awesome song combines a standing climb with jumps on a hill (or another element). Create a moderate hill for about 60 seconds. From 1:22-1:43, increase resistance and tell students an ambitious climb awaits them, climbing the first half of the mountain and then jumping our way to the top. At 1:43, begin a standing climb, keeping RPM steady and adding 3 resistance changes, 1 per minute. They should really be feeling it by the third shift! At 4:55, back off a touch and hit the saddle, grab a quick drink on the gear and prepare to jump your way to the summit, building anticipation with verbal encouragement until 5:40. “Try to give me 20 jumps on a hill in two minutes, your rhythm, your gear. I’ll see you at the top!” At 7:38 I count down the beats to end the song. (Make sure you download the 7:45 version — there is a 6:30 min. one as well.)
BPM control for all of you who teach to tempo and use an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Here's the newClass Builder iPhone App for Spinning Instructors. Tempo Magic Pro is a new iPhone app that allows you to change the BPM of your music on your iPhone, while it's playing. You old Group Fitness instructors all know what that slider is for on the CD player. Looking to add a little more intensity to a song? Adding a few additional BPM may be just what you need.
I saw Tempo Magic Pro at IDEA last month being promoted by Petra Kolber and Yes! Fitness Music. They didn't have a working demo at the time and I just got their announcement that it is now available. I downloaded (purchased $4.95) the app and am giving it a try. I hope to have more about this as I play with it.
Here's what I do know so far:
It sounds great! Changes to the BPM seem to have very little effect on the pitch. No chipmunks in your class 🙂
It takes a while for the App to analyze the music in your playlist. But then it appears to work without delay.
The change in BPM is gradual, without a sudden change that would disrupt the flow of your class.
It only works with unprotected files (AAC or MP3), not with protected AAC files – which is no different than MixMeister or any other music software
You can add individual songs or a complete playlist. You can control the BPM of each song as it's being played or set it to match all the songs at the same BPM.
You lose the “now playing screen” that shows time elapsed and you will need to use the volume control on the side of your iPhone.
You can move ahead or back from one song.
Tempo Magic Pro iPhone App is another toy for you to play with and for 5 bucks it is something you will want to try in a class. As I type this I am thinking of all sorts of ways I can use this… Strangle Hold (my favorite climbing song) is at 148 BPM so it has you pedaling at 74 RPM. What would happen if I slowly increased the tempo at the half way point? Or started it a little slower so they really add on the load?
Not ANGRY like; “I want to punch your lights out!” More like; “there comes a time where you want to turn the pedals with anger.” I like to use songs that communicate this type of intensity in my class when I'm looking for a very focused, very determined effort.
Here is a good example of what I mean:
Do you have other suggestions? Leave them as a comment so we can build a list for others to use.
Yep, it's $70.00 but that's better than the $200 Mac users needed to spend for MixMeister Studio. Existing users can upgrade for $19.99.
It's a whole new install so you can keep MixMeister 6 installed and start over with version 7.
I have been playing with for a few minutes and the first cool new thing is it will import a playlist from iTunes. I have always preferred to build my playlists in iTunes instead of MixMeister so I see this is a big improvement.
I will have my full review soon and I will be making changes to the MixMeister Express Academy to reflect the new features.
ICI/PRO Sport iMIX ElectronicPlaylist Notes: I thought all of us from www.indoorcycleinstructor.com should be posting Sport iMixes of our favorite Indoor Cycling Class music playlists. 8:46 warmup > Pushing West is a great climb to get aerobic and ready for the rest of the class.
If you buy your music from iTunes try creating your own Sport iMix. The Sport iMixes are for fitness related activities. If you use ICI/PRO in the title others will be able to find them.
do things BIG! To close out a spectacular year, we’re asking you, the best Indoor Cycling Instructors in the world, to join forces and create a list of your favorite songs for 2010. But here’s the catch. In addition to providing the title and artist, you must also describe HOW you teach that epic gem!
