by Christine Hawthorne | Apr 15, 2016 | Music
Afro Celt Sound System, as the name implies, fuses Irish and West African music with electronic dance music. I brought back one of my old favorites from their 1999 album Volume 2 Release (Real World Gold) this week. I used it in an interval class and included a seated fast flat road and a standing flat road. At around 67 rpm's, you could certainly use it as a hill as well. I've also included this one in my St. Patrick's Day playlists in the past, because it has a celtic feel to it for sure. If you're looking for a unique, instrumental sound, definitely check this one out.
Afro Celt Sound System Lovers Of Light iTunes Link
by Christine Hawthorne | Apr 8, 2016 | Music
It can be tricky business finding just the right song for your sprint intervals. Today I have two songs that I've been using recently and my classes really seem to be liking them. One is newer (from 2015) and the other is older (from 2007.) I hope you can find a way to fit both of them into your classes some time soon!
The Power of Now by Steve Aoki, Headhunterz: Seated accelerations or sprints at :38 for 20 seconds; 1:22 for 30 seconds and again at 2:51 for 30 seconds.
The Power Of Now-Steve Aoki, Headhunterz iTunes Link
Into the Night by Santana, Chad Kroeger: Seated accelerations or sprints at 1:15 for 30 seconds and at 2:45 for 30 seconds.
Into The Night-Santana, Chad Kroeger iTunes Link
by Christine Hawthorne | Apr 1, 2016 | Music
If you're anything like me, you like to give your class a nice, gradual warm up to prepare them for all the hard work that you have in store for them. I typically like to use the first two songs in my playlist as my warmup. Many instructors like to use instrumental songs for their warm ups so that they can explain the ride without the distraction of song lyrics. I also find that my riders sometimes need to get their talking out during the first song and then they are ready to work, so instrumental songs work well. If you are looking for a few really great instrumental tunes for your next warmup, look no further. Here is a shorter song and a longer song depending on your preference:
Do you have a favorite warm up song, instrumental or otherwise?
by Christine Hawthorne | Mar 25, 2016 | Music
Happy New Music Friday! Just a quick post today but it includes some great brand new tracks for you to use in your next class. Some weeks I don't find much in the way of new music and other weeks I feel like I've hit the jackpot! Here are a few of today's finds that I'll be using in my upcoming playlists. I hope you can use some of them as well!
I'll be using sHe and Aftergold as flat roads and HandClap and Over and Over as climbs.
iTunes Links:
sHe
HandClap
Over and Over
Aftergold
by Christine Hawthorne | Mar 18, 2016 | Music
I am not often late to the party when it comes to music, but I definitely missed this week's favorite track when it came out almost a year ago. I discovered it recently at a PIYO class and it honestly took a few listens for me to really decide I liked it. I wasn't even thinking that it might be a song I'd use in a cycling class, but I'm planning on using it in tonight's playlist. At around 61 RPM's, it would make a great seated or standing climb. Give it a try, and feel free to comment on how you used it in your own class.
Alessia Cara Here iTunes Link
