Theme Ride Thursday: All Things Bicycle! Four Bucket Playlists for World Bike Day

Did you know that the humble bicycle, that two-wheeled wonder we’ve all come to love, has a rich history dating back centuries? From its invention in the early 19th century to becoming a symbol of freedom, fitness, and mobility, the bicycle has truly revolutionized the way we move. And on June 3, we celebrate its legacy with World Bike Day—a global tribute to this iconic mode of transportation.

World Bike Day was established by the United Nations to promote the bicycle as a sustainable and environmentally friendly means of transportation. It’s a day to celebrate the bicycle’s role in promoting health, reducing congestion, and fostering a cleaner, greener planet. And what better way to honor this day than by hopping on your bike and hitting the road…or, in our case, by hopping on your stationary bike with a great profile accompanied by a dazzling playlist?

World Bike Day is just the beginning. On June 26, we’re all about Ride Your Bike to Work Day—a rallying call to ditch those gas-guzzling cars and hop on our trusty bikes instead. It’s not just about reducing our carbon footprint and easing traffic congestion; it’s about embracing the sheer joy of cycling through city streets—wind in our hair and smiles on our faces.

Of course, we must give a big shoutout to our indoor cycling classes too! They’re not just a workout; they’re a carbon-free celebration of fitness, happiness, and confidence-building. Let’s not forget the joy, the challenge, the music, the camaraderie, the mind-body connection, our ability to set goals and overcome obstacles, and the countless other reasons why we love indoor cycling classes—what better way to celebrate than with a pedal-powered playlist extravaganza?

Introducing our bicycle bucket playlist with over 130 tracks designed to elevate your indoor cycling experience. From quirky tunes perfect for pre-class tracks or recoveries to energizing beats for those intense hill climbs, this playlist has it all. Plus, you’ll find some sound effects like gears or bicycle bell sounds for that extra dose of nostalgia—perfect to add at the start of every recovery.

When crafting your playlist for your bicycle-themed ride, you’ll want to include some songs based on the challenges we encounter in our cycling workouts, not just those about bikes. We’ve got you covered with three additional playlists: “Ride,” “Mountain/Summit,” and “Miles/Distance/Speed.” The four playlists together total close to 500 songs!

And if you’re short on time, check out “A Tribute to Bikes” by Julianne Lafleur—an expertly crafted profile that covers three types of terrain one might encounter while riding outside: flat roads with headwinds, rolling hills, and sustained climbs. As usual, use our bucket playlists to switch out a song or two. 

Now, let’s talk tunes. From classic rock anthems by Pink Floyd and Springsteen to indie vibes from Vampire Weekend, our bucket playlists have something for every rider.

First, you’re going to want to add this amazing track to your playlist. At 160 bpm, it’s perfect for a warm-up, cool-down, or recovery. The composer, Johnnyrandom, “recorded a bike, broken down into its component parts, being struck, plucked, and played, and created this cycling opus, titled ‘Bespoken.'” Here is a description of the track from Johnnyrandom’s Bandcamp page: Composer Johnnyrandom breaks new ground with musical compositions made exclusively from everyday objects. His debut single, “Bespoken”, explores the full potential of sounds generated from bicycles and their components, transcending the role of traditional instrumentation as the accepted method for creating beautiful and thought-provoking music.

Here are a few more of our favorites below (as described by ICA contributor Karen Cruz). 

I can imagine greeting students and setting up to Early B. The Doctor’s “Wheely Wheetie.” There’s something about reggae music that sets my day off on the right foot.

“Handlebars” by Flobots reminds me of the ’90s band Cake. This song starts off slow but quickly picks up for a hill at 71 rpm. It’s easy to climb to and you’ll find yourself intrigued by Flobot’s story. Ask your students to finish strong by adding some more resistance at 2:15 when the energy gets a little more aggressive.

“LDN” by Lily Allen is one of her less risqué songs, clocking in at 100 bpm. The track starts with Lily riding through the city on her bike after her license is taken away and following the priceless sights she sees. (Note: The track on Spotify begins at 0:42 in this YouTube video.)

And make sure you give “Bike Engine” by Stylo G and Jacob Plant a listen. I was intrigued by this track because one of my favorite go-to songs for cycle is “All Night” by Jacob Plant. This one’s a mix of reggae and house music, which makes it easy to get into a rhythm.

And don’t forget one of our all-time favorites, Luka Bloom’s “The Acoustic Motorbike,” featured in our Wednesday Timeless Classics (first posted in 2012) and in past ICA St. Patrick’s Day playlists. You’ll find yourself singing, “Pedal on, pedal on, pedal on for miles, pedal on!” 

For a goofy intro or post-class track, try Rock ’n’ Rainbow’s “I Like to Ride My Bike,” which very well could be any cyclist’s theme song!

As noted above, when creating your bicycle-themed profile, you may want to include songs that around about bikes or bicycling but are related to what we do on our cycling journey. Below, ICA members will find four bucket playlists to peruse on the themes of Bikes/Wheels, Ride, Mountain/Summit, and Miles/Distance/Speed with a total of 500 songs to choose from. Please let us know if we are missing a vital track!