Today we lost Ed King, the guitarist for the iconic southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd. He’s the one whose voice can be heard counting down at the very beginning of their most famous hit, “Sweet Home Alabama.” Here are a few tracks you can sprinkle into your playlists as a tribute to one of the more recognizable southern rock groups in the country.Read more…

wake up inspire

I’m a morning person, which is why I teach the 5:45 a.m cycle class at the Y. But don’t be fooled—there are days when I secretly wish I could call out and stay under the covers…and I know I’m not alone. We’ve compiled some songs about waking up and starting the morning off on the right foot. We’ve also sprinkled in a few songs about sunrises, clocks, and beautiful days in our newest theme playlist.Read more…

happy birthday playlist

“They say it’s your birthday. It’s my birthday too, yeah. They say it’s your birthday. We’re gonna have a good time.” As soon as you hear these lyrics you know it’s the Beatles’ classic, “Birthday.” And while this is a favorite loved by many, you might be left wondering, “What other songs are there to choose from if you’re creating a birthday playlist?” Well, we’re glad you asked!Read more…

sexy and i know it

Summer is the time of year where many of us get to show off those legs we’ve been developing all winter long. It’s time to feel “sexy” or, at the very least, marginally happy with the rewards of our hard work—ha! If you feel like “heating things up,” give this “sexy” playlist a listen and find what that appeals to you.Read more…

As instructors, we become accustomed to being the center of attention. Even if we’re never totally comfortable with it, it becomes routine. We implicitly agree when we take the mic that we will be evaluated by our participants. But what goes through your head (and your heart) when you’re REALLY being evaluated on your ability to lead? Are you open to constructive feedback?Read more…

If you are teaching with power and either regularly conduct 20-minute FTP tests, or want to be able to bring your riders to the point of participating in a field test, it’s essential that you train them to tolerate longer intervals. Shorter HIT intervals are great, but longer intervals should also be a pillar of your training program. This “cruise” interval profile (i.e., longer aerobic intervals) is the perfect template for creating your own intervals of this nature. Read more…