Thursday, July 28, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 28

I love musical theatre.
And, you know that there is always that one song
that gets the audience moving...

In "Grease" I think this is the one...


And when I'm riding my bike, it gets me moving too...!

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 27




This is another one of those songs that I like to have on my cycling playlist
simply for inspiration.

When you're on a long ride you need it,
and who better than Sara Bareilles to sing it to you..!

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 26


Seriously, how can you not ride fast while listening to this...?
How can you not find the inspiration to push yourself further and faster...?

Ok, if anything, it's a great wake-up song...

Enjoy!

Monday, July 25, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 25


I've said before how I get a lot of my music
from TV and movies.
Like this song.

I first heard it on SYTYCD
So You Think You Can Dance...

It's upbeat
It's peppy
It's a great riding song...

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 24


You know those songs from your college days
that made you feel as though life was the best ever
and dancing would go on all night until
you thought your legs would fall off...?

That kind of song... 
that's the kind of song I love
on my cycling playlist.
Because it reminds me of being young
and full of energy
and being able to dance until the morning came
and sometimes you need that
when you have been riding all morning
and you need to find that little bit of something
to just make it all over that next hill...

That's why this song is on my playlist.


Friday, July 22, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 22




I can't tell you how much I love this song for cycling.  It's got it all:  fast-paced music, inspirational lyrics, and just an overall great feel.  When friends ask for music for running, cycling or working out, I am quick to recommend this song. 

I like this song to come on in the middle of my ride so that I can keep on going.  Or, I like it to come on when I am hitting a big hill, because it really inspires me to attack the slope.  Then again, it's great at any time... yeah...!  So get to work, B!^@#...

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 21




As I've mentioned before, I find a lot of my music from movies and TV shows.  This one is from the movie "Spy."  It's fresh, it's upbeat, it's fun to ride to... enjoy!

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 20

You have to admit it... you see some beautiful things while riding a bike...


And, sometimes you just want to listen to 
good up-lifting music...


Like this song from Jason Gray...


It's so wonderful to just be in the moment...


And enjoying the ride...


I love this song so much I included it in a video
which featured this song as part of the Birthday Shuffle then...


Enjoy that video too...!

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 19


This is one of those songs that can be a warm-up song
or a cool-down song.

Either way, it's one of my favorite songs when I ride...

Enjoy!

Monday, July 18, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 18


I know this song is all about expectations,
but this is a song I like to hear somewhere
around the middle of a long ride...
when I am starting to feel Numb.

On short 20 - 30 mile rides,
I know what my body needs to keep functioning
and keep cycling, but I am still learning
what I need to do to keep my knees from freezing
and locking up,
and what I need to do so I don't feel
like my lungs are going to explode
on those longer rides.

Or especially in the middle of a long incline...
I hate long inclines.

Are you watching the Tour de France...?
I have watched it the last 2 years.
It's inspirational even though I know
I will never be at their level.
I kinda wish I had watched it as a kid
because it definitely would have been
inspiring then, and maybe I would have
trained more and done more when I was younger...

Anyway, this was their stage profile from yesterday... yikes!

And this was their final climb... eek!


We have some hills nearby which are similar,
and I am med control for a local race

This is not something I would want to do on a bike...

Talk about feeling numb...



Sunday, July 17, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 17


I have a lot of music on my "Spinning Wheels" playlist
that I like to call traveling music;
it's there for nothing more than something
pleasurable to listen to while riding,
and this song on today's shuffle
is probably the quintessential traveling song...

Feel free to sing along...!



Saturday, July 16, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 16

the first one...
It's amazing how easy it is to feel as if you can't do something.
It's also amazing how many people will make you feel bad 
about something as you're doing it.

Like Meghan Trainor says,
"Yeah it's pretty clear I ain't no size 2..."
And, I can pretty much say you start to feel
very vulnerable when you put on those
cycling clothes for the first time. 

     

Which is why I like songs like today's shuffle pick
"Titanium" by David Guetta & Sia
  
Just when you're starting to feel frustrated
and as if you aren't really accomplishing anything
this song will come on...


And those people making fun of you on your bike
don't matter, because in your head you're thinking,
"Yeah, but can you do this...?"



or this....?


Cause I can...
and I did....
and I do...

"I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium..."

Friday, July 15, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 15



I get a lot of music from movies,
and this is one of my favorites from
"Charlie's Angels."

It's by Prodigy,
and it's heart-thumping
legs-pumping fun.

Enjoy this scene as you imagine riding down a hill,
full throttle...!

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 14


Well, of course this song came up again...


How can you not feel like you could climb a mountain
when this song comes on..?

So Rock On with me,
are you gonna go my way..?

This is how I remember first hearing this song
in 1993...!


Still have a girl crush on that drummer..!


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 13


Today I went for my first bike ride in 2 months.
I knew it was time to get back onto the saddle,
and get back into the habit.
It's time...

As I was pulling out of my driveway,
the first song I wanted to hear was 
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.


This is my second favorite start-of-the-ride song:
a nice pleasant intro,
followed by a bit of a build up
for the first 2 minutes then
a great guitar riff leading into 
the piano solo around 3 minutes.

And then around 4 minutes,
bam! Kick-ass electric guitar..!

Usually I am warmed up by that point and
it sets up the right mood for the rest of the ride...


Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 12

Today's your birthday!! Actually, it's my birthday, and so I am deviating a little and picking out one of my favorite songs on my riding shuffle... Oye Como Va by Celia Cruz...


I was trying to find the version that I have on my shuffle which is the Latin/Trance mix...

I have a lot of Latin and salsa music on my shuffle...
what can I say, they have an awesome beat and really keep
you moving even when you don't want to...

Keep on, movin' on... 

Monday, July 11, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 11


I've mentioned before I have an eclectic taste in music...
The following song I first got as a free song from Starbucks,
and it immediately grew on me,
and it's oh so perfect as a pick me up on a long ride...
Dance on..!
I mean, Ride on..!



Sunday, July 10, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 10


Long stretches require a little moving music to keep up a rhythm.

That's why I love this song...


As I've said before, I get a lot of my music from
"So You Think You Can Dance" and
that's where I first heard this song.


Think about this when you hit those long flats,
and see if it doesn't put a little spring in those legs...
Enjoy...!





Saturday, July 9, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 9



Fun, upbeat, energy-packed...
everything you want in a cycling song...

Boogie on,
Ride on,
Party on...!

I chose this YouTube video
because I will always associate this song
with this movie,
and, I love this movie..!

Friday, July 8, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 8


I first heard this song in a commercial for a car
and it stuck with me.

Now it's one of my favorite riding songs.
 It's edgy, it's upbeat, it makes me want to go fast...

enjoy...!



Thursday, July 7, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 7


Sometimes you need a song that's upbeat,
but also kinda mellow
for some of those long flats...

That's why I have some Jason Mraz in my playlist.

I've really enjoyed his music,
but especially moreso after going to his concert
in San Francisco...


Today's song is just one of several I have on the playlist...
We'll see if any of the others come up during the month
Enjoy!




Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 6

"Runnin' Down a Dream"

You don't need an explanation as to why this is a great cycling song...


Especially when you're doing a long ride...


And then facing a long climb...


That road seemingly headed straight up...


Whew!  I did this...!

I thought I would share a video I made using this song
from a road trip we took 2 years ago... enjoy!



Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 5


Some rides are just for fun...
Like this song...
Just something upbeat to listen to while
riding around.
During a long ride, it gives just a little bit of extra energy,
and if it weren't for the fear of bugs in my teeth,
I might just sing along...




Monday, July 4, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 4

Given that it's the Fourth of July,
I am going off the shuffle for a day to bring up
one of the other songs in my playlist:


I have a lot of songs on my playlist that are for inspiration.
Especially when I face new challenges.


In comparison to how far I've come,
10 miles doesn't seem very far... 
but it was the climb that was the challenge.
This was one of my first ones...
I call these "lung vomit hills"
because I honestly feel like my lungs are going to burst
up out of my throat...

Songs like this one, and some others in my playlist
really help.


And of course add to the celebration
when you get to the other side
and race downhill...!



Sunday, July 3, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 3


I've known my friend Melinda since college.
Just recently, we've both started riding separately
and earlier this year for the first time together...
50 miles, crazy elevations...

I think about her because of the next song in my shuffle:


"Tainted Love" is one of the soundtracks of my college days.
I love hearing it when it comes on during my ride.
It reminds me of being 20 and carefree.
Dancing all night as though my legs could go on forever...
I need that little inspiration sometimes on a ride.
Especially when faced with a challenge like this one:


Saturday, July 2, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 2

Today's shuffle brought up
The Time (Dirty Bit) by the Black-Eyed Peas


Everyone knows the starting riff is from Dirty Dancing's 
"I've Had the Time of My Life"
but much more techno...

I like that it gets my heart going
and gets my legs pumping.

I also like that it reminds me at the onset
"I've had the time of my life,
and I owe it all to you..."



My husband was initially against my getting a bike.
He argued about how dangerous it was.
He argued about how no one respects cyclists.
He argued, and I bought a bike anyway and started riding.

Now he supports my riding.
He encourages me to get out on the road.
He drives me to locations and drops me off.
He's picked me up when I'm riding home, 
and it's suddenly started raining.
And, now he's driving me to biking events...


And, I keep having the time of my life... 




Friday, July 1, 2016

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 1


I can't believe I've been doing this over the last 5 years.
Wow, time sure flies...

This year, I thought I would blog about the music in my
cycling playlist:
one because it's great music,
but two, as I look ahead to turning 49 this month
I really have to start thinking about taking better
care of this body so that it can last another 49 years.
So, I am hoping that I can be re-inspired
to start riding more regularly again...

And maybe do a 100 mile ride instead of my usual
50...

So let's begin...



The rest of the month I'll be doing a true shuffle,
but this first song is almost always my first song on a ride...

I don't know what it is about this song,
but the opening is ethereal;
those first 20 seconds are like a heart beat.

As I start my ride, it's finding the right position,
making all those fine adjustments for the ride ahead,
and then getting settled in the seat... 

At about the minute mark, the pace of the song changes
which is about the time I start to pick up the pace
stretch out my legs
adjust the gears
find my cadence.

Around 2:35, the rhythm
picks up suddenly.
I'm starting to get warmed up,
all the adjustments have been made
I'm in the zone.

Then there's a sudden lull at 3:19.
Soft piano music
then back to the initial ethereal heartbeat rhythm.
I have a moment to remember to breathe.
Then the singing starts again,
and I continue my ride...




Featured Post...

The Mid 40's are in the Books

For some reason I never got around to writing about traveling to National Parks numbers 44, 45 and now 46...! Back at the end of June...