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.)
Skilled at interpreting the needs of each client, a variety of consulting services can be tailored to meet your vision, budget and timeline.Whether spicing up a corporate franchise or launching an upscale boutique, Barbara and her team of experts will ensure your studio is the most popular ride in town.
Unlike traditional architects or interior designers, Barbara directs a successful
60-bike program and combines over a decade of teaching experience with cutting-edge design skills to create safe, versatile studios that accommodate a variety of ride styles.With an eye for details and cost-saving opportunities, her consulting services more than pay for themselves.
As a columnist and presenter for REX Roundtables for Executives, World Spinning and Sports Conference, MindBody, Club Industry Magazine, Mad Dogg Athletics and Indoor Cycle Instructor Pro, Barbara is regarded as a trusted leader in the industry.In addition to studio design, she offers class building workshops, grand opening rides and special event fundraisers.
Clients include:
■ Miramont Lifestyle Fitness, Fort Collins, CO
■ Gold’s Gym, Atlanta, GA
■ Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
■ Grit Cycle, Costa Mesa, CA
■ Mad Dogg Athletics, Venice Beach, CA
■ KOR180, Austin, TX
■ U.S. Army, El Paso, TX
■ Body Boutique, Lawrence, KS
■ Velo Vite, Montreal
■ Pedal Studio, UK
■ Paul Venning Fitness, UK
■ BodyCycle, Philadelphia, PA
■ Surge Cycling, St. Louis Park, MN
■ Half Moon Resort, Jamaica
■ U.S. President Jimmy Carter
■ Special Olympics, Vermont and Georgia
■ Cancer Coalition of Georgia
Contact Information
Email: Barbara@indoorcycledesign.com
Web: www.indoorcycledesign.com
Social: LinkedIn / Facebook
- All about the balance in your class. - September 12, 2023
- SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR SPINNING STUDENTS FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU - December 20, 2021
- Amp up your Indoor Cycling class with time management - March 29, 2021
hi John, this would be even better/more useful if the BPM of the music was included.
Wolfgang Gartner “Wolgang’s 5th Symphony” 128bpm
Prometheus “9th (The Man Who Swan Through a Speaker)” 144 bpm
Il Divo “Amazing Grace” 127bpm awesome CD song
Wish I could Fly like Superman…The Kinks,,,
The beat says it all…I always feel like superwoman during this song!
When love takes over – David Guetta – 130bpm
Dance About It: Paper Tongues. Start out as a slow seated heavy climb to the handclap beat; on chord change come up to position 2 at double time beat, on chorus come out to position 3 for a short sprint; revert and repeat three times.
‘Til I Collapse-Eminem (RADIO EDIT ON I-TUNES)
Stay in the saddle with the cadence to the beat, which will put you on a flat road at about 88 RPM’s.
When you get 58 seconds into the song come up to a standing flat.
At 1:40-2:05 d0 4-count jumps to the chorus then after stay in the standing flat road.
At 2:48-3:10 do 4-count jumps again on chorus and then resume standing flat.
At 3:55-end of song…4-count jumps again.
Temper Trap Sweet Disposition 6:46 remix – climb to heavy climb, 7-8.5 on the RPE scale, then 2 minutes from the top a surge for the peak, to breathless.
Samurai Set-Gaelic Storm
Great song for a seated climb!
Following the beat will put you on a heavy climb at 60 RPM’s.
I explain that any climbing will be done between 60-80 RPM’s and that this seated climb will be heavy (uncomfortably challenging at 75% of max to start)
1:20-prompt them to keep resistance but increase cadence as close to 80 RPM’s as possible.
at 1:35-do a 15 second cadence check
At 1:50 tell them that in counting their cadence on one leg that there number should be as close to 20 without going over. If they were easily able to get cadence past 20, then have them add more resistance.
1:52-cadence drops back to the beat at 60 RPM’s
At 2:24-prompt them to increase cadence again
At 2:40-2:55 Do a 15 second cadence check again to see if they were able to spin up to 80 RPM’s.
this time have them hold 80 RPM’s
At 3:19 drop cadence back to the beat at 60 RPM’s and max out resistance at that speed.
At 3:28 come up to hand 3 and do a 20-second sprint to the top!
B-Side Wins Again Featuring Chuck D (By DJ Spooky and Dave Lombardo)-4:31
This entire song makes for a great seated flat.
It can be used to teach those about maximum cadence for a flat road.
If your indoor cycling bikes do not give the cadence reading, following the beat will put their cadence at about (104 RPM’s).
They can be told that the max is 110 RPM’s, but wait about a minute or so into the song at holding to the beat before you let them know where there cadence is.
Having them hold it for the entire song is challenging, especially when prompting the “saddle bouncers” to have enough resistance at that chosen speed to take away their bounce!
For those wanting additional challenges, prompt them to add just enough resistance to make a slight but noticable change with each minute that passes (up to 4 changes in resistance), without compromising their pedal speed.
Starting level of intensity at 65% of max and with each change in resistance increasing intensity by 5% and ending at 85% of max.
FIGLIO PERDUTO-SARAH BRIGHTMAN (4:37)
Haunting song for a heavy seated climb with resistance loading.
Climb to the beat which will put you at 60 RPM’s.
There will be 3 changes in resistance while keeping the speed at 60 RPM’s.
1:45 resistance increase
2:35 resistance increase
3:26 resistance increase and come up to hand 3
4:00 increase cadence by 5
4:08 increase cadence by 5
4:15 increase cadence by 5 and hold til the top!
The Russian March by Bob Sinclar and Dirty South 128 bpm 8:13 time
Start off in a seated incline for 30 sec., then jumps on an incline for 30 sec. , then a seated sprint on an incline for 30 sec. ,
Repeat this 90 sec. routine for 5 times alternating the sprints between seated and standing.
Heart Rate should be between 80%-85%.
MY OWN LITTLE WORLD-MATTHEW WEST (4:12)
Good seated flat road with 2 standing runs
Following the beat will put the cadence at 96 RPM’s
at 2:00-2:30 come up to a standing flat road run and try to keep the cadence as quick as it was in the saddle or at least above 80 RPM’s
3:07-3:37 come up again to a standing flat road run and again try to keep the cadence the same or at least above 80 RPM’s
Molossus-Hans Zimmer (4:49)
Great for a simulated seated flat into a head wind.
Prompt them to stay in saddle the entire time and select a comfortably challenging gear at 65% of max.
Do a cadence check to be sure they have picked a speed between 80-110 RPM’s.
They are picking their own speed in this range to hold for the entire song.
Explain what Lactate Threshold is and tell them at 1-minute in the road will turn into a head wind. Have them keep their speed and increase the gear to feel like a heavy climb.
Their goal is to hold this resistance to the finish line for 3 1/2 minutes!
At 3:29-3:45 tell them this quote, “Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.” –Muhammad Ali
Tell them it’s not over yet and that they have to increase their cadence at least by 5 to the finish line.
at 4:00 tell them to hang onto it for 30 more seconds.
At 4:15 tell them to give you another slight increase in cadence to the end!
4:30 they are there and cadence drops back slightly and resistance comes back to comfortably challenging.
My new favorite from feedbitz! Please download it!
http://viprhealthcare.typepad.com/files/linkin-park-vs.-carl-orff—the-catalyst-vs.-carmina-burana-djs-from-mars-remix.mp3
I know they are old, but I love the Propellerheads. On Her Majesty’s Royal Secret Service is a 9:23 minute track with a great, fast beat that slows down in the middle (from 4:46-6:50). I use it as a Carmichael steady state interval, beginning on a moderate hill, quick cadence (80-85 rpm). When the beat comes in, surge out at third to get the cadence going, back down to the saddle and maintaining a fast cadence on a challenging flat (95+), keeping intensity right below LT for entire song. When the beat slows down, switch to a hill, but keep intensity constant, and when it comes back in at 6:50, come out to 3d to finish the interval (but don’t cross threshold). Recovery should be about half the length of the interval.
Jade – Now I am going to reveal my ineptness. I love the Linkin Park mash-up – but when I click on the link you’ve posted, all I get is the song playing. How do I download the song?
Love this song: Shining by David Morley
The beat is infections and makes me want to add resistance and charge to the top of a climb. It was actually a free download a while back on amazon.com. It one of those little gems that can often be found on Amazon’s daily downloads.
There, There by Radiohead
There, There by Radiohead
WOW!!!!! Thanks for the GREAT start to this list of GOLD! I’m already inspired and can’t wait to teach your favorites! Remember, we need information on HOW you teach the song.
Keep ’em coming!
…and if you have it, the bpm.
Yes, we’ve got a great start to this list!
“old” doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you enjoy it, your students enjoy it and it does something to you/for you as you ride your indoor bike!
Deliverance by Space 125 bpm 6:38 time
This is not the song from the movie!
This is a race up a hill. A minute of jumps starts this hill and then alternating one minute seated and standing climbs adding a little more intensity each set till heart rate reaches 90% at the final minute !
Dirty Picture ( Jason Nevins Club )[Kesha] by Taio Cruz 129bpm 6:54 time
I use this song to run a couple of laps. A lap is one minute in the saddle on flat road and then two minutes out of the saddle facing a head wind. Repeat twice. Cadence in done at a high enough rate to keep your heart rate In the 80% range for the whole song!
-For a HIT level: 160bpm by Hans Zimmer 10’11”
imagine yourself on a final 2miles of a race surge-control-pace-control-attack-control-sprint you have all that.
-A perfect ambient mode: Transform your life through sacred geometry by Ivan Rados 10’12” it can be used as a warm-up or a seated climb part the voice and cry are bring you somewhere.
-Just a mix I like: Belly tribal rock by Celso Makhara 2’30”
themix of belly dancing drum andelectric guitar is great, I wish the track was longuer. I used it for short rolling with pace change more than load.
Thank you all! I’m looking forward to checking the list often. What’s helpful, very helpful, are the ideas of movements, cadence, coaching tips for the songs. It helps to visualize why the song is a favorite and what can be done with it! Thanks again!
Hammerhead by The Offspring
This is a test comment
Homesick by Schiller, 109 BPM, 4:42
Flat road with a little bit of a head wind
Hi Pascal,
I played around with the Belly Tribal Rock song you listed below and added an extra minute so it’s now 3:30! You’ll never notice where I spiced the music. You can download directly at:
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/986008593/995a113cec19f18d2db91e4db57623e0
If you have a problem downloading let me know..otherwise, Enjoy!
Hi Pascal,
I played around with the Belly Tribal Rock song you listed below and added an extra minute so it’s now 3:30! You’ll never notice where I spliced the music. You can download directly at:
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/986008593/995a113cec19f18d2db91e4db57623e0
If you have a problem downloading let me know..otherwise, Enjoy!
More tests to see if this works or it’s just this post
switch/twitch by Fluke 9:33…I have used this on Jennifer’s loop de loop…;)
Extreme Way (Bourne’s Ultimatum) By Moby
This is a great climbing song. Add a little resistance every minute and power over the hill.
I love using Ravel’s Bolero as a long climb. It’s about 13-14 minutes, slow beat (don’t know the BPM’s) and the great thing about it is that it just keeps building and building. My favorite way to use it is in the third block of a series of three long climbs, each 13-14 minutes. First one is at 80 RPM’s, moderate intensity; 2d one is at 70 RPM’s at hard intensity; and the last is Bolero, 60 RPM’s at LT. During the last two minutes of the climb – out at 3d, bring each of the 10 RPM’s that they lost back (10 each minute) to cross threshold. Really powerful way to end a class. (I got this idea from a spinning workshop)
Jade, I too love the Carmina/Linkin Park mash up and I only get a black screen with the song playing. Please, how do we download this great song?
Paschal, Could you share the title of the Hans Zimmer song please?
Shango by Angelique Kidjo. It’s 4:53, and has a great, fast strong beat. I like to use it for a set of switchbacks, trying to keep the RPM’s around 80. It also makes a great, strong flat.
Barbara Thank nice done,I will used it next week.
Terry, the name of the track is 160bpm.
One of my all time favorites. Soulution by Utah Saints. 7:42. I’ve used it as a long flat into a headwind, rolling hills or switchbacks. It’s a nice piece when you are looking for a medium to long interval.
I LOVE Tribal…nothing like the drums to crank up the energy. My new favorite is Yerbatero (Tarantella Redanka remix) and you can buy it most anywhere. The song is so cool because it just keeps building, and with every instrument added you can add a pedal stroke. There is a nice minute of quietness toward the end, and I use this to evoke the feeling of a finish line approaching….then complete the 6:30 minute song in a big way.
Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun – M83 – 120 BPM
This is a great, layered, long climbing song. I’ve used it at those emotional moments on long climbs where you want them to focus on those affirmations to get them to the top of those long, tough hills. You know where you get above the tree line, the clouds from the rain that just hit them start to part, the sunlight is getting more and more exposed, the landscape on the remaining hill and valley below really revealing itself, the top of the climb is in sight – and you know you’re going to make it.
One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula – Dengue Fever – 102 BPM
This is for those building intervals with moments of greater intensity. A little over six and a half minutes to get a number of increasingly greater challenges in. Makes for a nice race day tune when you have several moments where you want to briefly pick it up.
Sounds of the Drums (original stereo mix) [feat. Di Simmon]
by DJ Chus & Abel Ramos
Ibiza 2010 vol. 1
Time 7:45 minute
I use this song to cross a HR zone.
CAD is above 80
Take Heart Rate to 90%, when you reach 90% recover to 80% and then repeat to 90% and recover to 80%(when it hits 80% take of to 90%)——Do this the whole song , everyone is on their own.
I only call out the remaining time every minute, 6 min left, 5min left & etc.
This can also be done with CAD below 80 as on a Hill.
I also like the Carmina/Linkin Park mashup, but I could not download it from the link posted on this thread.
I googled it and found a website and downloaded the song successfully from : http://www.mashuptown.com/2010/09/linkin-park-vs-carl-orff-the-catalyst-vs-carmina-burana-djs-from-mars-remix.html
Hope this helps!
For early in the workout I really like the song “Always (Ashley Beedle’s Mahavishnu Remix)” by Bent. This is a good bridge song from say HR zone 3 to 4. It has a somewhat mellow theme, but overlayed with enough of a quick tempo that riders can gradually spin up the pace as they latch onto the groove. It ends with a reduced tempo appropriate for a little recovery before the next bout. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7n9gDylE6E
Two Step by Dave Matthews (6:21)This song can be used for so many profiles… I use it for my first song, it starts off slow in the beginning so I get in some warm up stretches, then it picks up so i get them to find there base line pedal stroke… from there I have them come on and off their base using only cadence, the music has great energy and you can feel just the right timing within the beat and lyrics. I throw in a few pedal stroke drills and then we add some more resistences and hit the road running! This is also good for race days.. or your last few miles home at the end of the class… ENJOY!
sweet disposition (axwell and dirty south remix)
I’ll put two on the list:
Ozzy Osbourne, I don’t wanna stop it has a good hammering beat
and one of my favorites because of the message is the song Indestructible by the band Disturbed. I tell my students to picture themselves competing against one of the strongest riders in a race up to the finish line.
One favorite song for each major move on the bike:
Warm-up: We No Speak Americano (Vhyce Remix) | Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP | 5:50
Great warm-up tempo – can be used for cadence drills and getting the heart rate up!
Flat road: Bonafied Lovin | Chromeo | 4:31
Hills: The Longest Road (Deadmau5 Remix)| Morgan Page | 7:28
I use this song for a hill climb, and for turning + hill climbs on a RealRyder bike.
Speed/Sprints: Animal (Kaskade Remix) | Neon Trees | 3:41
Bonus for fun: Fear of The Rockstar 101 (DJs From Mars Remix) | Rihanna vs. Iron Maiden | 5:42 | found on Remix-Nation.com
Hi everyone, I’m in Australia and our clubs are being forced to use only PPCA license free music as of Jan 1. I’m interested to hear if any other Aussies (or anyone, for that matter) has found any good license free music. I’ve really liked most of the stuff from Klepper music, but most of what is released on cycle CDs from fitness sites is pretty terrible in my opinion. I’m gutted to be losing my 8 years of cycle music, I feel so attached to it now! – but I’m trying to look at it as an opportunity to start afresh. 🙂 any websites for music from unsigned artists would also be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Christine
For the Australian instructors reading this, there are several profiles such as energica magica and tourmolet where many of the tracks are ppca free. You do have to do some more work to confirm, I get the track name, check who it is licensed through using iTunes(most are from there). I go to a database website called disc hogs.com and if you start searching for the label disc hogs will tell you about the company and who the parent company is. It is both the label and the parent label you need to check on pica list. I have a much condensed list but still great tracks and has changed my classes heaps. Lots of world music is pica free and Jen uses a lot of that in her profiles. This site is a godsend!
Fav track… Moonlight sonata -es posthumous(awesome album, so many powerful songs) slow, bpm 104 but slow feel, greet for long pained climbs. Adding resistance.
Send me an angel- Elijah (macros rodrigguez mix)bpm 122, very melodramatic singing, good very dramatic effects, cadence ends up at approximate 75 (1 leg pedals 12 times in 10 sec count. 12 x 6. =72 so good cadence.)
Novaspace is Belgium based singer/ group who do good covers. Wicked game cover, excellent. Another good pained climbing track but also nice recovery.
I’ll have heaps more but that is a start.
Best of sina vodjani- best track is straight to the heart( used in energica magica, sooo good)
Amazing Grace by the Dropkick Murphys 2:38
It starts out slow for the first 30 seconds and then picks up with a strong driving beat for 2 minutes.
The first 30 seconds explain to the group that they are going to set their own pace for 2 minutes and focus on holding that pace. It is a mental challenge as well as physical.
Its a great way to end a class strong.
I love Mojave by Afro Celt Sound System. The first 5 minutes are quiet and slow. I use his time to built resistance – seated. This is not monster hill. I cue them to where the riders feeling a medium hill not heavy but not easy. They can still keep a steady smooth pedal stroke. As it approaches the 5 minute mark the music slowly begins to pick up pace. At 5 minutes, it is up out of the saddle and off. The rhythm defines the pace. You will be able to see many of the riders all in sync both pedal stroke and body movement. This is neat to watch.
Alegria from Cirque du Soleil – Starts on a easy rode and adds resistance every time you hear the title Alegria. They come frequently.
About half way through the song slightly changes — time to come out of the saddle. Be careful of how much you add each time. I think there are 17 turns the song. Nice way to sneak in a really big hill.
Hard Sun by Eddie Vedor soundtrack from Into the Wild. Just a plain power climb song. Pick’a big hill and climb.
For some speed Irish Washerwomen by Andre Rieu. For 2:30 it just gets faster faster.
So Far Away by Stabbing Westward – 4:59
Such a nice, sexy, grungy climbing song. You can stay in the saddle for a few minutes and feel the intensity begin to build around 2:30. At 3:00, make a powerful transition to a standing climb for remainder of song.
Save Yourself – Stabbing Westward 4:12
This song has a combination of heavy, hard, banging music mixed with a quiet measures to break up the noise. You get a nice combination of teaching moments using the soft/hard contrasts of the music.
hi Christine
I share your pain. For those outside Australia – imagine that you could no longer use any orginal artist music because the copyright fees increased %1000 ! That’s the situation in Australia.
I think the available music is hopeless. I am changing my freestyle classes back to Les Mills RPM because at least the PPCA-free stuff they provide is passable.
The only site I know of woudl be JJJ Unearthed for unsigned bands. PPCA free, I am looking through the following but so far I have been disappointed:
http://www.traxmusic.com.au
http://www.indoorcycling.com.au
http://www.instructor.com.au
http://www.rhythmexpress.com.au
http://www.verticalmusic.com.au
http://www.yesfitnessmusic.com.au
http://www.fitness-essentials.com
http://www.musicandmotion.com.au
I understand that PPCA do not represent all original artists, so there is some music we can use legally. But, I am currently trying to find out how to check PPCA free or not.
One that’s been a favorite of mine forever is Let There Be Light (BT’s Pure Luminescence Remix) / Mike Oldfield, 13:16. I use it for a long climb with 3 periods of uphill surges (not super fast, just picking up your climbing tempo a few rpm to power to the top; could do them seated or standing) at 2:23, 6:02, and 9:04.
I could see using it on a flat road, too.
Orion / Rodrigo y Gabriela, 7:44. I tell the class that not every hill goes straight up. This one is going to take us on a journey. The first 3 minutes or so, climb steady in and out of the saddle. Around 3:30, the music transitions a bit–this is the steepest part (gear up, slow down, perhaps stand to give more power to the pedals). Around 5:50, feel another change as the hill gives up a bit of steepness and you settle into the saddle for a faster-paced push to the top.
Show Me / Mint Royale, 4:07. A fun flat road, maybe with some controlled, powerful jumps thrown in for fun and to bring the effort and HR up.
Ready Steady Go by Paul Oakenfold 4:12 – excellent for sprints.
Feel Good Inc (Album Version) by Gorillaz 3:41 – rock steady beat for warmups or flats with changeups.
Artist: Heavy
Title: How You Like Me Now Solo Remix
Time: 6:15
Flat roads never felt sooooooo good!!! This is a blood pumping instrumental version that samples the original song by Heavy, a group with a James Brown-sounding lead singer. Make sure you find the 320kbps since high bit rates (256 and above) make a huge difference in quality compared typical 128kbps. If you can’t find this song, email and I’ll send purchase/download info. Barbara@spinroomdesign.com
Take My Hand by Simple Plan (3:51)
I like using this song for standing sprints. It has clear markings in the music for the standing sprints and the music is motivating with a nice simple phrase “Take my hand”. It is a good song for an interval class, especially for the last working song. The class participants always respond well to this song and challenge themselves.
I make a point of telling them that these will be standing sprints (92%HR) and not to be scared to add too much resistance because they will take the extra added off after the sprint. This is important because we often keep on adding resistance on a climb.
I start them on a seated climb with moderate, then have them increase the resistance, go into a standing climb, and then increase the cadence for the standing sprint. The standing sprints occur during the chorus:
0:46-1:12
1:49-2:15
Watch out for the “false” lead at 2:54. I use this to get them to add resistand and get up to a standing climb and then add extra resistance to make the last standing sprint the most difficult. I tell them to make this last one their best!
3:20-3:48.
Hi Tim,
Thanks, i have seen the sites you have listed, and have been disappointed too :(. I have found a site recently that has some good music, although you need to check the label, as some is PPCA free, and some isn’t. There is a document you can get that has a list of all the record labels that are not allowed – this is the link: http://www.ecu.edu.au/GPPS/copyright/resources_file/PPCA_list.pdf
The site i found is for Profile Records, on Greville St in Prahan, Melbourne. Website is http://profilemusic.net.au/about.html
Cheers,
Christine
Bee Hive Baby by Reverend Raven – seated climb @ 65 RPMS with 3-8 count jumps in middle.
Mushroom – Junkie XL
128 BPM
Big gear on a flat or seated climb with a break away.
Thunder by Nuttin But the Strings
End game song!
2 standing intervals 1:38, 1:29 long
This is my trademark song and my riders love it. Hope you can get some use out of it.
Jumbo by Underworld is a fantastic way to wake up, I mean warm up, your riders first thing in the morning!
Some of my favorites are:
Walking Wounded (remix) by Everything But The Girl
Fast climb seated or standing with rollers
Swamp Thing by Juno Reactor
Climb standing or seated. I like to have my class think of how a powerful cat moves and think of the supple movement and the powerful dynamic strength as they climb this climb.
Spotlight by Mute Math
Fast flat, or intervals or a climb with power bursts.
Proud Mary – start a steep seated hill @ 1:00 @ temp chg 2:36 take off on a almost 3 minute long sprint!
Uninvited – The Freemasons feat Bailey Tzuke.
Long version great for big gear flat ride for first two minutes – followed by increasing resistance seated climb with a standing breakaway.
“Arcana” by Globus off of Epic Live. Starts fast from the gate, sub threshold or threshold then at 1:25 there is a strong transition, kick up the intensity to anaerobic capacity for 90 seconds to finish. You can also opt to kick it up another notch at 2:26 for the final 30 seconds.
Asura – Altered State (Album Edit) – 100 BPM
2 x 3 minutes hard flat with a short recovery
Field Rotation – Tiefflug – 100 BPM
4 x 1 minute high intensity (>=85%)
I love this playlist, more and more ambient music and less lyric ! I know it is a choise we made but it is so easier and relevant to what we do TRAINING.
Tim, Christine and other Austalian Instructors, here is what i do to get PPCA free music.
The list from PPCA (that christine mentioned) is what I always refer to. When I find a song i like (lots of the songs listed by jennifer) I go find who the record company is. Some of the tracks are found on itunes, this makes things easier but others aren’t so you have to do a bit of googling. Once Ihave the company name I go to a site called http://www.discogs.com/. This is a database for all labels and artists and if you type in the record label the site can tell you who the parent company is, this is the key I think. Lots of labels come under big ones such as EMI and Sony. If there is no parent company and I am not familiar with the label then I go the PPCA PDF and do a search for the label. That is how I have been getting around it. I must say I spend a huge amount of time finding new music. But once i have spent a couple of hours hunting for say 4 tracks, I use those 4 tracks quite a bit and then as I find more I add.
From the slow cadence audio profile I created the following profile to match
Trouble Is (Tiesto Remix) [Club Edit] – Turboweekend
Work (kelly rowlands mix) – indoorcycling.com.au (release 1)
Simultaneously – as listed by Jennifer in the profile
ON my side – as above
Every breath you take – as above ..oh and what a top track!!
Send Me an Angel (Marcos Rodriguez Remix) – album(Send Me an Angel (feat. Estela Martin) – EP
Smells Like Teen Spirit – generation pop rock – actually I am taking that out as it a crappy cover but they do some good stuff.
cool down – Sina Vodjani (the whole album is sublime)
Anyway that is how I am getting around it. I am getting great feedback from my members and I do go a bit of power music here and there if I feel like something poppy.
If you can be bothered, consider contacting Matt clarke at indoorcycling.com.au and suggest some tracks that are PPCA that he could produce on his releases. Also Instructor.com.au are the same, you may be able to talk them into something.
The bottom line is I have always had a bit of a cheesy taste to my music and now I am going alternative which is proving to be good for my classes and my members. Hope that helps.
Artist: Kosheen
Song: Overkill (Main Edit)
Establish moderately heavy seated climb, then use the chorus to offer cadence increases. If your purpose is to force a recovery afterward, use the chorus as 16 second sprints; otherwise, an increase in cadence works incredibly well.
Jetstream (Redanka’s Booty Mix)
Artist: Doves
Redanka (personal friend!) has just offered a free download of his new album, Jetstream by Doves. Incredible….he’s a genius. Grab this powerful, layered new mix (Redanka is one of the best mixers on the planet and happens to have a fondness for indoor cycling in Great Britain!) Hill or false flat, you decide…I can’t stop playing this song!
Courtesy to ICI/Pro from Redanka himself!
http://soundcloud.com/redanka/doves-jetstream-redanka-booty
“The Sound (John M. Perkins Blues) by switchfoot. Very motivating and driven song. it opens with a resounding BOOM! You can push hard straight through for 3:36 or back off and apply some HIT surges at 1:13(28s), 2:17(20s), and 3:03(33s).
“Time” from the Inception soundtrack. like a clock this climb is progressive and starts building at 1:01 every 30 seconds. Some volume control or editing is required as this piece starts very quiet and ends very loud. Once the build starts every 30 seconds more instrumentation and energy gets added in. it peaks at 3;01 for the last 30 seconds before returning to the intro rhythm. Forget about beat matching this is all about emotion.
Wow, this list is going to be freakin amazing! With all these great coaching tips and some with bpm….I can’t wait. 🙂
Barbara, THANK YOU for providing that link from Redanka! Do you guys know how cool this is? I’m listening to it right now! Thank you!
Here’s a smattering of some ’10 favorites:
The National–Terrible Love
The Besnard Lakes–And This is What We Call Progress
The Drums–Let’s Go Surfing
The Chemical Brothers–k+d+b
DJLobersterdust–Celeplanes (M.I.A. vs Rare Earth)
Radiohead–Street Spirit (Funkagenda Remix)
Edward Sharpe/Magnetic Zeros–Home (RAC Mix)
Someone earlier mentioned Swamp Thing by Juno Reactor. LOVE IT!
But, here’s another fun one to do in the same class…
Swamp Thing by The Grid, from Evolver. 68 bpm. A powerful consistent climb. Break from the saddle with the changes in the music every now and then. It starts out with a banjo, has kind of a Deliverance feel to it. I joke that we’re riding in the mountains of the south – better be careful who you talk to! 😉
Hey David Means – Mr. Music! Good to see you here. 🙂 What do you do to those songs?
@ALL AUSSIE INSTRUCTORS
PPCA free music options list.
CAVEAT: What you’re going to get is a fair proportion of horrible covers of stuff I wouldn’t have used in the first place. I think a better option is just ditching music use altogether and adopting a more mindful approach to training. Heart rate and/or power data could be useful…
<:o http://www.traxmusic.com.au
http://www.saifam.com
http://www.fitness-essentials.com
http://yesmusicfitness.com.au
http://www.workoutmixes.com
http://www.musclemixesmusic.com
http://www.sweatmusic.com
http://www.cardiomixes.com/rfmusiccollection/html
http://www.bigbeatmusic.com
http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com
http://www.instantroyaltyfreemusic.com
http://www.powermusic.com
http://www.move-ya.eu
Cheers Shayne
Proud (Josh Harris Pride Remix) by Heather Small; 3:47; 128 bpm’s (I figured out how to get these!)
Yup, it’s the theme song to the Biggest Loser. Tami Reilly suggested this in one of her workshops. It’s a great way to mark an accomplishment and get them psyched up. I love to use it at the end of a periodization training, right at the beginning of the final event (e.g. race day)
You could also use it at the end of particularly challenging class, when they know that they have really earned it.
Armin Van Buuren’s new album Mirage has some useful tracks on it. I like using the extended versions because it gives me a bit more time to work with:
Desiderium 207 & Mirage (10:08) — Hill 65-80rpm
— Good songs for flats (anywhere between 85 and 110rpm)
Coming Home (9:37)
Orbion (9:34)
These Silent Hearts (7:42)
I put the songs that show up most often in my playlists and came up with 75. Here’s the top 5 from that list:
1) Enter Sandman by Metallica — Live version – all on a run, alternating between 2 and 3, 30 sec interval picking it up in 3. Heartrate around 80%.
2)Nightmare by Brainbug Flat road that picks up in cadence. Good to do sprints to. It’s impossible to go slow with this song. Heartrate around 70% at the beginning, 85% at end.
3)When You Say Nothin At All by Allison Krauss – the power of a smile! A hill, 30 sec in and out of the saddle. Increase resistance coming out of the saddle. I ask the students to keep their heart rate above 75%. Their tendency is to use hills for recovery and heart rates to drop below 70%. I remind them if they don’t pedal hard when they are on a hill outdoor, their bike will fall over! Cadence 60-70.
4)Let It Whip Dazz Band – All on the run, with jumps. Intervals can be 15 or 30 seconds, 5 jumps then return to running. Heartrate around 85% of max.
5)Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler, Super positive message. 30 secs flat road cadence of 90, add resistance, 30 seconds cadence 110, add resistance 30 seconds regular run then 30 seconds fast run. Repeat all. Usually use as final working song before the cool down. Heartrate to 90%.
One of my favorite groups is E-Type, they have some great songs that you can let you imagination run wild with .
A few of their songs are :
Africa,
Angels Crying,
Arabian Star
Far up in the Air
Just listen to one of them and it will call to you!
Cafe Mocha – Jesse Cooke – This is what I call our “interlude” song. I often insert it half way through our workout. I have my clients drop there head down, close their eyes and imagine riding from one spot to another, describing this ride. or, have them focus on their body, taking them through from toe to head, what they are feeling, noticing.
Paritcipants rise up from this 3 min. interlude smiling and ready to push through the rest of the worksout. Can be as easy as a few choice words, or if you’re a good story teller, take it further. YUMMY!
Bathtub Jesus. Entrain. 5.11
Cold Case Love from Rihanna’s Rated R CD. Produced by Justin Timberlake (genius). Total time 6:05
This song can be used two ways. I prefer to use it for a long slow climb, but it needs to be “pitch controlled” up a bit to bring it to a 60 rpm cadence.
Otherwise, use as is for a steady flat road cadence of 98 rpm’s.
Here’s the cool part. JT put incredible instrumental builds into the song: small ones at :53, 1:15, 1:36, 1:57 and 2:40. Big builds at 3:44, 4:29 and 4:50. Obvious musical declines at 5:00, 5:20, 5:30 and 5:40.
I have my class start at 70%, and add small bits of load on the first 5 “small” builds, reminding them that we have three big adds coming after those.
They ask for it often and want the name of the song/artist/CD, so they must like it.
WHIPPIN’ POST (Allman Brothers 5:21 total, 132 bpm) – Best Song Ever!
Combines seated climb with 3 hard efforts out the seat and a run at the end.
Establish a moderate hill, climbing in your seat.
:55 – add enough resistance to challenge the legs but maintain cadence and come up to a standing climb
1:22 – the incline increases significantly – power up that hill
1:38 – come off heights back to a moderate hill but one that is slightly steeper than the first, seated climb
2:35 -same as :55
3:05 – repeat 1:22
3:20 – back off the hill, return to the seat, and work on a moderate climb, slightly steeper than the last round
4:04 – significant increase in resistance, rise to a standing climb
4:20 – coming to the summit, up the resistance
4:47 – begin 30 second run to the top
5:21 – feel the joy!
Hi John! My favorite three songs of 2010 are (1) Break On Through – D J Disse, Buddha Bar X (Bonus Track Version), 5:57 – 110 BPM. I use it for warmups and group speed intervals. (2) Blurry – Puddle of Mudd, Come Clean Album, 5:04 – 160 BPM. Hard Climb & Jumps on a Hill. (3) Drivers Seat (Neil Nuff Original Mix) – Dogtooth, 5:54 – 133 BPM. Use – speed intervals (40 second leg burners).
Rory Gallagher from the live album “Live in Europe” the title “In your Town” great climbing song for about 9.30 minutes.
My favorites all involve climbing with uptempo surges. They are:
“Dog Days are Over” by Florence and the Machine
“Tubthumping” by Chumbawumba
“1901” by Phoenix
“Just Say Yes” by Snow Patrol
“Spaceman” by the Killers
“Read my Mind” by the Killers
“Float On” by Modest Mouse
Here are a couple by the same artist, LCD Soundsystem, that can be used similarly. They start small and soft, then build energy as the song progresses. Both make for excellent songs to end a class.
LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends 7:25 142 BPM
LCD Soundsystem – Yeah (Crass Version) 9:19 132 BPM
Forgot another one by LCD Soundystem. They do a fantastic cover of Harry Nilsson’s Jump Into The Fire. In the podcast, Barbara mentions the use of covers or remixes of familiar songs. This one fits that profile (it’s even better than Nilsson’s original). plus builds energy as described above.
LCD Soundsystem – Jump Into The Fire 5:54 152 BPM
Some different songs for climbing:
Portishead – Machine Head 4:48 105 BPM
Industrial feel, kinda like NIN, with haunting female vocals
Beck + Bat for Lashes – Let’s Get Lost 4:10 110 BPM
The best song from the Twighlight Eclipse sountrack
Tobacco – Sweatmother 2:10 87 BPM
A short steep climb with a deep electronic beat
Sufjan Stevens – Too Much 6:44 148 BPM
Sufjan’s sterling vocals and impeccable production techniques go electronic on his latest CD, Age of Adz. This makes a great climbing song, even though Mixmeister says it’s 148 BPM
You Promised Me by In-Grid.
This is a fun song to do lifts( jumps ) to. When she says “you promised me” change positions on the bike, if you are UP then come DOWN and back and forth. I usually let the first “you promised me” be free and then I call the next two or three before letting the riders do their own. You can also get the anything other than English version for more fun. Use MixMeister to splice the two versions together.
SITTING HERE READING ALL OF THE GREAT IDEAS. WE ARE ALSO MAKING A PLAYLIST ON RHAPSODY WHILE WE READ AND DISCUSS TODAY’S CLASS. CO-TEACHING WITH OUR NEWLY CERTIFIED AND NEW ICI/PRO INSTRUCTOR – MORGAN L – THIS AFTERNOON. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT SONGS WE CHOSE AND THE RESPONSE.
Reminds me of You
If I knew then. Gary Hoey
I used these songs at the end of Jennifer’s Gratitude ride. They are both available on iTunes
@Bill – 148bpm is a perfect climbing beat of 74. I have found that sometimes you see it written as the full beat (some call it double time) and other times as the half beat. Music sites (such as Mixmeister, or albums) will usually list the double time; instructors (like me) will often post the pedaling beat. When I see songs posted with BPM from European instructors it really varies, depending on who is posting it. So for me personally, it’s easier to write it as the equivalent rpm that I’ll ride it to. Sometimes that means the full (double time) beat of say, 95bpm for a fast flat, or I’ll write 75bpm when it’s a fast song with a great half beat for a climb (that would technically be 150bpm).
So if you ever see a song suggestion from me with a bpm attached – it’s the desired rpm equivalent.
@Dane, I’m looking forward to hearing what songs you’re using. Morgan is lucky to have a mentor like you to co-teach with. What a great way to get a start as a new instructor – we’re so happy to have him (and you) as a member!
@Jenni, I’ll check those out – I’m so happy that you did the Gratitude Ride! I can always use new song ideas for it for next year.
I change over time … but my two current for speed intervals are Radar Love by Golden Earring and Sultans of Swing
1. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin (8:29, 78bpm)
2. Smoke & Mirrors by RJD2 (4:26, 96bpm)
3. Santo Domingo by Rodrigo y Gabriela (4:01, 64bpm)
Typical (Josh Harris Club Mix)by Mutemath – from the popular Twilight soundtrack. The strong beat is a nice contrast to quiet moments in the song where you can offer instruction and transform the terrain from a flat road to a soft hill or even jumps. Very versatile, uplifting.
“Kill Me Everytime” (instrumental version) by Blue Stahli, 5:08. It is PERFECT for a full blown maximum power interval or time trial effort. I have to hold myself back from using it too often in my playlists.
Played A Live (Dave Blank vs Steve Jones Edit) 4:30.
Drums and instrumental. No lyrics. Lots of layers so great for anything.
maybe a good thing to make a workout with this numbers
if someone comoose a list please send it, great idd
Sandstorm by Darube is a really good one to do a last exercice at 110% at the end ! Like the end of a bike race !
Runnin through the Fire, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. 78 RPMs. I just used this in Jennifers High Cadence Climbs. Worked great.
E.S.Posthumus with the great song Pompeii. This is a perfect Running on Hill song,
Keep the songs coming! We need about 50 more! When we hit 210, I’ll compile the list, clean it up and make it available in PDF form. C’mon, more music! Thanks to all for a superb job!
I really think that Exhibit 13, by Blue Man Group, 8:50, merits inclusion on the list. I used it exactly as John had suggested, at the end of a longer class (90 minutes), using the silent portion towards the end to help them visualize the fatigue at the end of a long ride, the feeling of almost “losing it”, followed by the triumphant return of energy in the final couple minutes of the song.
Fire (Extended Emergency) by Scooter from the Fire(EP) Album. 142RPM. Good for runs. It is fun to ask everybody to run when they hear the word “Fire” in the lyrics.
It has a great intro.
“Switch off the lights and close your eyes. Feel the energy inside. Relax. Relax. Your mind, your body and your soul. The atmosphere of your surrounding.”
System 7 – Song for the phoenix 7:52 110BPM great for a warm up or a fast long flat.
Above & Beyond – Good for me (Redanka Vocal) 6:55 130BPM great for a steady climb, seated or standing, the song has a strong beat but also smooth melody in the background. So this is a good track to climb while focusing on relaxation and harmony…
So many choices….Try this one. Dreams (Featuring Melanie Rev) by DJ Icey Like to use this during uphill run, loading resistance along the way, using all positions. I like to challange the riders to keep pace with me, with a few breakaways on a hill. Deep techno beat with Vocal Trance
Murray’s wife…see above Sometimes we like to team teach. We use this song to introduce an Indian/Asian Techno-themed ride into the hills. T his song introduces a series of rolling hills before a big mountain climb. 3 resistance increases, about 20 seconds apart in each position….up and over…take 2 off, back in the saddle…next small hill…resistance loading with each hill. Sultry Indian techno takes you there.
Ali (radio edit) Midivil Punditz
Push! Push! By Falco. I use this song for intervals – 30 sec. on and 30 sec. off Has a great rhythm. I use the words Push Push to help motivate. Also you could use it as a flat road ride.
Grace Potter and Joe Satriani’s cover of Cortez the Killer. Good ole fashion back to the basics live jammin. Good for a six minute grinder of a hill. See it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paeNnR33i5Q
and yes – there are ways convert YouTube to MP3’s:)
Rods and Cones (Blue Man Group) (5:58): Great for testing how well we can keep a pace while adding resistance. I have my students progressively build resistance while seated (I encourage them to just make small touches, add a ‘dab’ of resistance, etc.) while keeping the same pace. At about 4:15, I’ll tell them they should have on the max resistance they can handle while keeping a strong pace and then we keep that strong pace/resistance for the last 90 seconds.
Starlight (Muse) (4:03): great for surges/controlled increase of pace for 30 seconds. I cue them at :58, 2:25, and 3:30.
Ramallah Tel Aviv (Balkan Beat Box) (4:04): great for jumps/jumps on a hill
La Vie est Belle (MC Solaar) (3:54): climb; begins seated, add resistance at student’s comfort level, at 2:44, the feeling of the song really increases & it’s a great opportunity to crank resistance and change to a standing climb.
The Ballad of You and I (Melee) (4:41): this was one of the free singles of the week on iTunes a few weeks ago. It’s got an almost U2-ballad-esque feel to it. Perfect for warmups, or seated flats.
Hey Hey Hey (Michael Franti)(3:47): perfect for easy jumps, feel-good cooldown, or when you want to have a little ‘break’ in the middle of a longer class.
Thank you all for your suggestions–many of these are going to make their way into Monday’s class!
1.Une Petite Mason-Nexus Muse-The Buddha Experience:Trance (Disc 8) 6:34. Climbing with calmness.
2. Raindance-Maneesh De Moor-Sadhana 7:33 used in my Zen Journey, and Kilimanjaro profiles-Climb from the heart.
3. Hurricane-The Out of Sync Orchestra-same album above (TBE) 5:00. Get ahead of the storm!
4. Viva! (Orion Mix)-Bond-Explosive 3:15. Finale song…the crowd is cheering, the finish line is in sight…Where do you want to be? 1st, 2nd place…? Do you feel like to quit now?
Since Doug already posted “The Sound” by Switchfoot (my favorite), I’ll post my second choice … is “Sweet Emotion (David Thoener Remix)” by Aerosmith. (Make sure it’s the remix — not the original song.) Love this as a heavy, seated hill climb, with 4 standing 20-second pushes, and end with a 60 second sprint for the finish. Is 50 RPM and I have riders gear-up heavy (to the beat) seated, right away. Then queue them for 4 standing, 20-second pushes (ahead of the beat) at 1:15, 1:54, 2:52, and 3:30. Return to seated after each push and hold the beat. Add a gear as needed to stay at max effort while keeping tempo. At 3:52, I have them drop a gear or two (while seated) and sprint the last 60 seconds to the end. Most of the instructors at my club don’t ride the low end of the RPM spectrum, so my class enjoys this change of pace — with a little extra run at the end. Enjoy!!!
Looking for my old really old ones found
Atom Heart Mother by Pink Floyd 1970 a 23 min powerful song you have everything there is a mix of simphony and Rock good for climbing another old I just used I hope is not too old.
Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple.
Fanfarre for the Commom Man by Emerson Lake & Palmer.1977