by Christine Hawthorne | May 29, 2016 | Music
Even though summer doesn't officially begin until June 20th, to many of us in the U.S., Memorial Day weekend signals the beginning of summer. Thats why I'm here with a few songs for you to use if you're planning a special ride to signal summer's start. Sprinkle them in throughout the season or create your own unique summer themed playlist.
Summer of '69 by Bowling for Soup makes a great warm up or flat road.
Summer of '69 by Bowling for Soup iTunes Link
Try Hot Summer Night by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals for a climb.
Hot Summer Night by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals iTunes Link
Also try Summer of Love (Extended Mix) by Cascada for accelerations or a standing climb.
Summer of Love- Extended by Cascada iTunes Link
And of course Summer by Calvin Harris. Try out this Diplo Grandtheft Remix for something different.
Summer by Calving Harris Remix iTunes Link
Last, be sure to check out Summerthing! by AfroJack, Mike Taylor.
Summer thing! Afrojack iTunes Link
Whenever you celebrate the start of summer, I hope these songs will get your classes motivated.
Any other Summer themed song suggestions?
by Christine Hawthorne | May 20, 2016 | Music
Friday is my favorite day of the week for so many reasons, but the main one is that it's the day that most new music releases come out! Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite new releases. I hope you find something you can use in the mix!
This one from one of my favorite bands (OneRepublic) has been making the rounds on the evening television circuit and came out last week. It clocks in at under 3 minutes, and starts out slow and then picks up at around the :45 mark. Not sure how I'll use it yet, but I like it. 🙂
iTunes LINK: WHEREVER I GO BY ONEREPUBLIC
This one is around 105 BPM's. Maybe a flat road, maybe a hill if we push the tempo.
iTUNES LINK: SHE WANTS ME DEAD BY CASSETTE/ARON CHUPA
If you like to rock a little harder, try this single from the soon to be released album from Volbeat:
iTUNES LINK: SEAL THE DEAL BY VOLBEAT
If you're more into house music, there is some great stuff on this album from Kygo.
iTUNES LINK: CLOUD NINE BY KYGO
And finally, did you hear that Train is releasing a new album soon that is a cover of Led Zeppelin II (only my favorite Zeppelin album!!) Can't wait to hear it in it's entirety! Here are three of the tunes that have already been released:
iTUNES LINK: THANK YOU BY TRAIN
iTUNES LINK: THE LEMON SONG BY TRAIN
iTUNES LINK: WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE BY TRAIN
Any new music you're using in your classes?
by Christine Hawthorne | May 13, 2016 | Music
Today's favorite track is Sweep the Leg from Family Force 5. I used it this week as a seated warm up, but I've also used it for seated accelerations.
Another song that I've loved using by FF5 ( feat. Lecrea)as a standing climb is Cray Button.
If you haven't checked out Family Force 5 before, go to their Spotify page-you may find something else that you love for your next class.
by Christine Hawthorne | May 6, 2016 | Instructor Training, Music
I promised John a few pictures from last week's teaching vacation at Couples Tower Isle in Jamaica so here are a few.
Spin® bikes in facility
View from the cycling room. As you can see, the weather was amazing and the views were even better!
Here is a Spotify playlist I put together of “Welcome Music” to play as my class participants were arriving and setting up bikes, and I've been finding myself listening to it quite a bit even after I returned home:
In keeping with the Jamaican there, this week's favorite track is a reggae-dubstep mash-up from Skrillex with Damien “Jr. Gong” Marley. There are several remixes, but I prefer the original.
iTunes Link: Make It Bun Dem
by Christine Hawthorne | Apr 22, 2016 | Music
I came across this brand new release while searching today's new music on Spotify and iTunes. I can tell from first listen that this is a tune I will be using soon. I am a huge fan of Mumford and Sons but I have to admit, other than Believe, I wasn't impressed with their latest album, so this was a welcome surprise. It may not be the kind of sound you are used to using in your classes, but give it a try. I'm always experimenting with new sounds and my classes never complain. 🙂 I'm sure they're going to love this one. I'll be using it as a steady climb with a cadence increase at the 2:30 mark when the tempo starts to pick up.
iTunes Link: There Will Be Time by Mumford & Sons with Baaba Maal
