As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, we’re excited to add a brand-new Fourth of July profile to our collection of patriotic theme rides: America 250: The Freedom Ride.
Created by ICA contributor Susan Lafond, this ride celebrates Independence Day with a soundtrack built around freedom, patriotism, and life in the USA. Susan has become known within ICA for her creative, thoughtfully designed theme rides, and this one is no exception.
The profile is structured around three progressive sets of 10–12 minutes. Each set begins with a climb, transitions into a fast flat, and finishes with resistance-driven surges that challenge riders to increase intensity. Most of the ride stays in Zones 3–4, creating a strong aerobic training stimulus, while the surges push riders to threshold and beyond. The result is a ride that balances fitness, fun, and a celebration of the ideals that inspired the founding of the United States.
ICA members can access the full profile and playlist at the end of this post. If you want to explore other song options, you can find our Fourth of July bucket playlists here.
To help bring the theme to life, we’ve included some historical talking points below. Use them during recoveries, transitions, or easier portions of the ride to keep participants engaged and connected to the history behind the holiday. And if you’re not from the United States, I still encourage you to teach this ride. In our profiles and playlists, we regularly celebrate the cultures, holidays, and histories of countries around the world, and the story of the American Revolution is one that helped shape the course of modern history. Your riders may find these facts and stories every bit as engaging as the ride itself.
250 Years Later: What Should We Remember?
It’s worth remembering that the nation’s founding story is far more complex than the familiar tales of powdered wigs, tea in Boston Harbor, and fireworks on the Fourth of July. Behind the holiday are stories of courage, sacrifice, political compromise, divided loyalties, and an experiment in self-government that was far from guaranteed to succeed. Here are a few facts and talking points you can share during the ride.
1. July 4 wasn’t actually Independence Day.
The Continental Congress voted to declare independence on July 2, 1776. The Declaration of Independence was formally adopted two days later, on July 4, which became the date we celebrate.
2. Not everyone signed the Declaration on July 4.
Many delegates signed weeks or even months later. The famous image of all the founders gathered around a table signing together never actually happened.
3. The Declaration wasn’t unanimous at first.
Several colonies had reservations, and achieving consensus required intense debate and political compromise.
4. Only about one-third of colonists actively supported independence.
Historians generally estimate that roughly one-third favored the Revolution, one-third remained loyal to Britain, and one-third tried to stay out of the conflict altogether.
5. The Revolutionary War lasted much longer than many people realize.
Independence was declared in 1776, but the war continued until 1783—seven difficult years of fighting.
6. George Washington lost more battles than he won.
His genius was not in winning every engagement but in keeping the Continental Army together long enough to ultimately prevail.
7. The war was fought close to home.
Many battles occurred near farms, towns, and villages. Civilians often found themselves caught in the middle of military campaigns.
8. Enslaved people fought on both sides.
The Revolution raised profound questions about liberty while slavery remained deeply entrenched throughout the colonies. Thousands of enslaved people sought freedom by serving either the British or American cause.
9. Women played critical roles.
While excluded from formal political power, women served as messengers, spies, fundraisers, nurses, and managers of households and businesses while men were away fighting.
10. France was essential to American victory.
Without French military support, naval power, supplies, and funding, the outcome of the Revolution may have been very different.
11. Benedict Arnold wasn’t always a traitor.
Before his infamous betrayal, Arnold was considered one of the Continental Army’s most capable and courageous generals.
12. The Constitution came later.
The nation operated under the Articles of Confederation after the war. The Constitution wasn’t drafted until 1787 and wasn’t ratified until 1788.
13. Voting rights were extremely limited.
The democracy created after independence did not initially include most Americans. Voting was generally restricted to white men who met property requirements.
14. The United States almost had no Bill of Rights.
Several states refused to ratify the Constitution without guarantees protecting individual liberties, leading to the first 10 amendments.
15. The American experiment was anything but certain.
Many observers at the time expected the new nation to fail. A republic governing itself on such a large scale had little historical precedent.
A Recommended Watch
If you’re looking for a way to immerse yourself in the Revolutionary era, I highly recommend TURN: Washington’s Spies. My husband and I binged the series this past spring and found ourselves completely drawn into the story.
The show follows the Culper Spy Ring, a network of ordinary citizens who gathered intelligence for George Washington during the war. While the writers take some dramatic liberties—as most historical dramas do—the series is generally regarded as one of the more thoughtful and historically grounded portrayals of the Revolution on television.
I watched much of it with my laptop nearby, frequently pausing to look up historical details and separate fact from fiction. More often than not, I discovered that the major events, people, and outcomes closely followed the historical record. The series also sent me down a rabbit hole exploring battlefields, towns, and historic sites along the East Coast that are now firmly on my travel bucket list.
Watching the series during the 250th anniversary of America’s founding gave me a deeper appreciation for how uncertain, messy, and remarkable the nation’s beginnings really were. If you’re interested in the Revolutionary War, espionage, or simply a compelling historical drama, it’s well worth your time.
One note: Season 1 develops slowly. Stick with it—the payoff is worth the investment. But keep in mind, Captain Simcoe wasn’t the psychopath the series makes him out to be. It’s effective for the storyline, but it ain’t true!
Download The Freedom Ride below!