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).
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.
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
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.)
This week's favorite track is from Indie band Arian 1. I would classify their style as House or Electronic. The song itself has a great beat and a cool kind of vibe that will definitely keep your riders intrigued. The slow down in the middle allows you to change the intensity or transition from seated to standing. With very few lyrics, it allows you to focus on coaching your riders through the climb. Here's how I'm riding to this one:
:00-1:50 standing climb at around 65 rpm
1:50-3:00 seated climb
3:00-4:05 standing climb
Here's a track that will keep you climbing for almost a full four minutes. It's brand new from Dropkick Murphy's and it's every bit as good anything you've heard from them before. At first listen, you'll recognize their familiar sound, but you'll also notice that it's a bit on the slower than some of the stuff you're used to hearing from them, so it works great for a seated (or standing) climb. (80 rpm)
Here's another one from the same album that I'll be using for sprints on the chorus:
Definitely give the whole album a listen and keep them in mind when St. Patrick's Day rolls around!