Every drop counts—and on March 22, we celebrate World Water Day, a reminder of just how vital freshwater is to life on Earth. Since 1993, this global observance has brought attention to the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. Led by the United Nations, along with partners like UNESCO, the World Water Council, and the World Wildlife Federation, this initiative aims for universal access to safe water by 2030—without sacrificing the health of our planet.
And while we’re talking water, let’s not forget World Ocean Day on June 8—an annual celebration of our deep connection to the seas and the life-sustaining role oceans play across the globe.
But why wait for these dates to bring water-inspired vibes to your class? Water is powerful, refreshing, and unstoppable—just like your riders. 🌊
💡 Want to motivate your class with some liquid wisdom? Check out these 43 water-inspired quotes that’ll have your riders flowing with determination and strength.
🎶 Make Waves with These Playlists! I’ve curated three bucket playlists—perfect for creating your own refreshing theme ride. (ICA members can access these three bucket playlists at the end of this post.)
- Water/Waterfall 💧 100 tracks that flow with power and grace.
- Ocean/Sea/Waves 🌊 150 songs to help your riders dive deep.
- River 🏞️ 55 tracks that surge with steady momentum.
🔥 Featured Ride: “Flowing Together” by Fern Stancer
This challenging profile features three progressively longer climbs to build muscular strength and endurance. The playlist dives into all things water—streams, oceans, and even rainfall. Get ready for a ride that will have your class flowing with sweat from start to finish! (ICA members can access the profile below.)
💡 This isn’t just a gimmicky theme ride. A water-inspired playlist can bring serious power, emotion, and energy to your cycling class. From driving beats perfect for intense climbs to smooth, flowing rhythms for recovery, some truly incredible tracks fit this theme—and they’ll keep your riders fully engaged from start to finish. Here are a few of our favorites:
Water, Judah and the Lion, 4:43, 131 bpm
Push harder on the chorus during this climb—it’s all about digging deep.
Bring Me Some Water, Melissa Etheridge, 3:53, 127 bpm
You have to include this one—because what’s a water-themed ride without it? Crank up the resistance for an aggressive, punchy climb at 64 rpm.
Water of Love, Dire Straits, 5:27, 120 bpm
Slow, progressive climb from moderate to hard.
An Ocean Between The Waves, The War on Drugs, 7:11, 83 bpm
Perfect for a steady endurance segment, tempo ride, or warm-up that flows effortlessly.
Take Me To The River, The Talking Heads, 5:03, 101 bpmÂ
Ride off the beat on the verses (80–90 rpm) and surge into the well-known chorus with full power at 100 rpm.
The River, Good Charlotte, 3:15, 161 bpm
This rocker will have you pushing hard on a 3-minute VO2 max interval, leaving you borderline breathless at the end.
Water, Tyla (feat. Marshmello), 3:12, 124 bpm
Yes, the lyrics are steamy, but let’s pretend she’s talking about a fierce uphill grind! Push harder during two spicy intervals at 1:00–1:32 (32s) and 2:35–3:05 (30s).
Only the Ocean, Jack Johnson, 3:39, 161 bpm
Chill cool-down track.
Below, you will find Fern’s profile “Flowing Together” along with the three bucket playlists, currently with over 300 combined tracks (and continually growing).
đź’¬ Got any water-themed favorites that should be on these playlists? Drop your suggestions in the comments below!