Theme Ride Thursday: I Have a Dream, A Tribute Ride to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not just a leader of a movement—he was a moral compass for a nation still struggling to live up to its ideals. His words challenged complacency, his courage demanded action, and his vision of justice rooted in love continues to echo through generations. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we don’t just remember him—we recommit to the work.

If you’re planning a tribute ride for Dr. King, music can become a powerful bridge between effort and empathy, between struggle and hope. The right songs don’t just motivate the legs—they open the heart.

My theme profile, I Have a Dream: A Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., is designed to be a transformative experience in the cycling studio. It is intentionally challenging: four very demanding intervals in the first half of the ride, followed by a long, steady 15-minute moderate climb in the second half. A few years ago, after teaching this ride, two participants waited to speak with me afterward. They didn’t mention watts or cadence—they thanked me for creating a workout that meant something. That is the power of pairing purpose with movement.

This is not an easy ride—but neither was the road Dr. King walked. The difficulty is part of the message.

Coaching Cues to Weave Throughout Your Ride

Use these cues as needed—drop them into intervals, climbs, or recoveries to reinforce the emotional and historical weight of the ride:

• This effort is uncomfortable—but discomfort is often where change begins.
• Stay present. Stay committed. Progress doesn’t come from backing off when things get hard.
• Dr. King spoke about the “fierce urgency of now.” This is your now—don’t postpone the work.
• Strength isn’t just power—it’s restraint, discipline, and purpose.
• Hold your form. Hold your focus. This climb is about resolve, not speed.
• You don’t need to be perfect—just persistent.
• Every revolution of the pedals is a reminder that forward motion matters.
• Breathe. Regroup. Then recommit.
• This ride isn’t about winning—it’s about showing up.
• Finish this climb with dignity. Finish it with intention.

These cues work especially well during the early high-intensity intervals and the long closing climb, helping riders stay connected when fatigue sets in.

Prefer to Build Your Own Tribute Ride?

If you’d rather design your own MLK-themed class, explore our bucket playlist of more than 120 songs that reflect the spirit, struggle, hope, and historical context of Dr. King’s era. Like any theme ride, you might choose to dedicate an entire playlist to the man and the movement—or simply include a meaningful warm-up, a powerful climb, or a reflective cool-down.

ICA members can access the Express Profile for this ride, along with the Spotify bucket playlist, at the end of this post.

Spiritual High (Parts 1, 2, and 3), Moodswings, 95 bpm

Three 5-minute sections that can be used individually or combined. Part 3 includes excerpts from Dr. King’s speeches. While 95 bpm technically lends itself to a fast flat, the emotional gravity of this track often calls riders out of the saddle. Years ago, I wrote a detailed post on coaching all three parts together during a single 15-minute segment, blending flat and climb. In my more recent profile, I now use one section as a powerful warm-up.

[Note: I am THRILLED beyond belief to discover that this album has been reinstated to Spotify! (At least, here in the US.) For the longest time, I had to use my iTunes to teach this profile because “Spiritual High (Part 3)” was no longer available on Spotify (since I own the MP3 in my iTunes library). That’s one frustrating thing with Spotify—you never know when songs might disappear—often due to music rights issues.

 

 

I Have a Dream, PPK, 8:56, 132 bpm
This Russian trance track incorporates soundbites from King’s iconic speech. It works beautifully for a long, steady climb where riders can settle in and commit.

By the Time I Get to Arizona, Public Enemy, 81 bpm (explicit)
A bold and unapologetic statement addressing the resistance to establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday. If your studio can project videos, this one is especially impactful.

Glory, from the Motion Picture Selma, 4:32, (bpm n/a)
An ideal pre-class track, warm-up, or cool-down. Sets the emotional tone immediately and reminds riders why this ride matters.

Martin Luther (The King), Smokehouse, 4:27, 114 bpm
A soulful R&B track that works well as a slow, heavy climb or reflective post-class song.

They Killed Him, Kris Kristofferson, 3:25, 148 bpm
A haunting tribute to leaders assassinated for their beliefs. Use this for a climb with weight and gravity.

Marchin’ with Martin Luther King Jr., Joe Dolce, 4:17, 137 bpm
An upbeat yet purposeful climb that reinforces collective movement and momentum.

NAS, I Can, 4:13, 95 bpm
While not explicitly about MLK, this song carries his legacy forward—empowerment, education, and self-belief rooted in history.

Additional Songs to Consider

These don’t always reference Dr. King directly, but they embody his message of justice, dignity, and humanity:

• “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke
• “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye
• “Redemption Song,” Bob Marley
• “Freedom,” Beyoncé (from Homecoming)
• “Rise Up,” Andra Day
• “None of Us Are Free,” Solomon Burke
• “Keep Ya Head Up,” Tupac Shakur

ICA members can access the full profile and the complete bucket playlist below. Many thanks to Bill Pierce, Billy Coburn, Laura Iwan, and Andrea Shepherd for contributing to this extraordinary collection.

If you have additional song suggestions that honor Dr. King’s legacy, please share them in the comments—we’d love to continue growing this resource together.