One, two, three, four …

Just keep the rhythm.

Keep them turning.

Keep moving.

We’re sweating.

Don’t let the tempo drop.

Stay close.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the connection between cycling and music.

Those who know me well are aware that I used to DJ a lot when I lived back in the UK. And DJ’ing is all about tempo, and rhythm, getting sweaty, moving, and keeping the wheels (of steel) turning.

It is a real buzz seeing a room slowly fill up, seeing the feet start tapping, the anticipation of the night rising. Spotting the chair dancers, and how when the first few dancers move onto the floor you have to react to them, encourage them, keep the spirits rising. All of sudden you hit a brilliant moment with the perfect tune to get people onto the dancefloor and then you’re really off.

It feels like a flow state, ensuring that you don’t let the tempo drop, moving from tune to tune, always keeping your eyes on the ringleaders on the floor to check what is going down well. Flexibility and a readiness to change quickly when energy starts to flag are imperative to success.

And there was nothing worse than when you missed the mix, and you could see (and feel) the atmosphere in the room change as people were jerked out of their flow.

No two nights were ever the same. You might go in with an idea about what you’re going to play, and how the night is going to pan out, only for things to take a left turn and all of sudden you’re in a completely different place with your music than you expected, but you’re still having the best time.

A night out could often be as (or more) exhausting than a hard session on the bike. And the next day the legs are destroyed from all the dancing. And your clothes are in a sweaty heap in the corner on the floor.

So, all in all – pretty similar to riding a bike!

And I’m sure I’m not the only one who has music going round and round in their head when they’re out riding. That might be an annoying earworm that you caught on the radio on your way out, or a favourite tune that motivates you up a hard climb. Either way there’s something symbiotic for me between music and riding.

But one thing I don’t do is ride with music in my ears. I know there are safe ways to do this using Shokz headphones are something similar, but I always prefer to be music free when out on the bike. The only exception being when I’m on the indoor trainer when music is mandatory. Either 6Music or one of the BBC Classic Essential Mixes (not classical music, just classic mixes) do the trick for me

Music and cycling also has a more directly related history – with bands embracing the world of cycling and being inspired by it. The most well-known example probably being Kraftwerk with their homage to the Tour de France. There’s a great interview with Ralf Hütter from the band in Rolling Stone magazine detailing how important cycling was to their music

I also remember a Scottish band from the ‘90s called The Delgado’s, named after the famous Spanish rider and Tour de France winner from the 1980s Pedro Delgado. Their first and second albums were called Domestiques and Peloton respectively in a continued nod to the cycling world.

And for British cycling fans, nothing can compare to the amazing intro music for Channel 4’s coverage, written by the incredibly talented Pete Shelley from the Buzzcocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ5B2cFdc44

What about you? Any favourite riding tunes? Let me know in the comments.

What I’ve been listening to while writing

For this music friendly newsletter I’ve mostly been listening to this amazing version of Papa was a Rolling Stone by the Temptations from 1972. Total perfection in a song written and recorded over 50 years ago.

https://open.spotify.com/track/7MiLmLbwNoyf47xQ4TCVYp?si=ed4127b61abe418e

There is also a brilliant reggae version of the tune by The Pioneers from 1973.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5n0WsaspK9ECkiBncJd4zR?si=4842a9a29582491b

Enjoy!

Getting into the rhythm

Rain Check …

Gearing up …