On August 23, we celebrate Ride Like the Wind Day—the perfect excuse to clip in, grip those handlebars, and let it rip.
To “ride like the wind” means moving with speed, power, and pure freedom—like a cyclist chasing the horizon with nothing but open road (or trail) ahead. It’s that feeling when your legs are spinning like a well-oiled machine, the air is rushing past your ears, and every push of the pedals takes you further into your own adventure.
Some visuals you could use in your cueing.
- Ride with speed and momentum: Imagine the wind at your back, your bike flying forward with every stroke, and the world blurring at the edges.
- Pedal with freedom and flow: Just like the wind can’t be tied down, neither can you—free to ride wherever your wheels take you.
So on August 23, see how far and fast your ride can carry you.
Do you have any songs that elicit the same feeling?
Free Bird, 9:07, 118–148 bpm
This southern rock anthem, with its iconic guitar solo, embodies a sense of freedom and the desire to break free from limitations. The lyrics express a longing for escape and a refusal to be tied down.Â
This is one of the few songs that changes rhythm mid-way through, giving you an unusual opportunity to use the tempo to increase intensity, not just the resistance. You don’t even need to coach very much—let the tempo do that for you and just ride.
Begin in a moderate climb. It begins to subtly speed up around 2:10, then at 2:40 returns to 118 bpm. Then at 4:15 it begins creeping up again until 4:43, where it hits the fastest rhythm of 148 bpm, as if the wind has decided to drive harder. This means your cadence has gone from about 58 rpm to 75 rpm. If you didn’t touch your resistance, you are working harder. Maybe even really hard.Â
Give your riders the freedom to decide when and how often to stand.
Jennifer uses this song in her profile Three Long Guitar-Powered Climbs for International Guitar Month. You’ll find a helpful description on how to coach this climb.Â
Runnin’ Down a Dream, Tom Petty, 4:23, 170 bpm
This song captures the feeling of chasing a dream and the exhilaration of the pursuit, emphasizing the energy and determination required to make it happen. Use it as a flat road with leg surges at 0:35–0:53 (17s), 1:16–1:48 (32s), and 2:11–2:45 (33s).
Another option is to sit and ride steady at a sub-threshold intensity, as you do in this profile called 1980s Rock ‘n Ride: Long Sweet-Spot Intervals.
Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac, 3:44, 135 bpm
Life is a Highway, Tom Cochrane, 4:27, 103 bpm
Take the Theme Further
Another way to build your “ride like the wind” theme ride is to weave songs about the wind throughout your playlist. We’ve started a Wind bucket playlist for you, and it’s already grown to 45 songs. ICA members can access that playlist below. Here is another song option for you from this playlist.Â
Riding on the Wind, Judas Priest, 3:10, 89 bpm
If your riders thought they had a tailwind, this song quickly proves otherwise. The driving guitars and relentless energy make it perfect for imagining a fierce headwind that demands strength, determination, and grit. Use it as a spirited fast flat road where riders have to stay focused and keep pushing against the wind.
A great “ride like the wind” class isn’t just about the songs—it’s about creating the feeling of speed, power, and pure freedom. Help your riders imagine chasing the horizon, the wind rushing past, and every pedal stroke carrying them farther into their own adventure. We hope these songs—and our growing Wind bucket playlist—help bring that experience to life. And if you have a favorite wind-themed song we should add to the playlist, let us know!