June 21 marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year—and that’s both something to cheer and sigh about. On one hand, it brings all the good vibes: backyard barbecues, beach days, and golden sunsets that linger late into the evening. On the other hand…every day after this one gets just a little bit shorter. (Cue the tiny heartbreak.) If you’re into science and seasonal trivia, here’s a fascinating CBS article about solstices and equinoxes.
Last month, we shared our Back to School/Summer Vacation Theme Ride Thursday, but with the solstice just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to highlight a few of our other summer-themed rides and playlists and offer up a profile that’s tailor-made for celebrating summer in the saddle.
☀️ I call this one Summertime Fun.
I first brought this profile to class back in February, when we were deep in the throes of sub-zero temps. It was -3°F when I arrived at the club that day—so yeah, we were ready to channel some serious summer heat! This ride is inspired by Karen’s Jump in the Pool interval profile (linked below), and I even borrowed a few of her splash-worthy tracks. Later this month, I’m dusting it off again for the real thing: the actual start of summer.
📊 Here’s a look at the profile in Stages Studio. OK, I admit—it’s a little more up-and-down than my usual rides, but hey, when summer hits, you kind of feel like bouncing around, don’t you? (Of course, we keep it safe and grounded—no actual jumping off the bike!)
⬇️ Download the Summertime Fun profile below and let me know if you use it—I’d love to hear how your class enjoyed it!
🍒 Summer Vibes Cadence Ladder
Looking for a ride that blends summer energy with purposeful coaching? Susan’s Summer Vibes Cadence Ladder is just the ticket. She created this profile last year as a sunny twist on the foundational ICA ride Cause and Effect. It moves riders gradually from 65 rpm to 100 rpm across three smooth, progressive segments—each about 13 minutes long. If you’ve been following along with our five-part resistance coaching series, this ride is the perfect way to tie it all together. After all, you can’t steadily increase cadence without mastering the art of subtle resistance changes!
And if you’re looking for more sunshine-inspired rides, we’ve got you covered with these ICA favorites from the archives. Just click the links to access them:
🌅 Shari’s original Summer Solstice profile. A beautiful way to honor the longest day of the year. (Shari also created the beloved Winter Solstice ride I teach every December!)
🏄♀️ Summer Surfin’ Safari Interval Profile. Picture yourself riding intervals along the beach. The recovery songs are all classic surf hits—total vintage vibes.
💦 Jump in the Pool by Karen. This is the inspiration behind my own summer daydream profile. Turn up the heat and challenge your class to the “splash test” as they sweat it out and race for that imaginary dive into the pool!
🎶 Don’t forget—we also have several epic bucket playlists to help you craft your own summer-themed ride or switch up the tunes in any of the profiles above:
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School’s Out 🎓 80+ songs to celebrate freedom!
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Summer ☀️ A mega collection of 340+ tracks perfect for sunny days and feel-good rides.
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Vacation/Holiday ✈️ Over 110 songs to take your riders on a musical getaway.
(These playlists are also linked in last month’s School’s Out/Summer Vacation post, but I’ve dropped them below for easy access.)
Soak up the light, lean into the energy, and bring that summer magic into your next ride!