Again, this might be controversial...read on
In the same way that Mr Armstrong can split the cycling community, there can be the same effect when you mention "do you listen to music when you're cycling?". Some purists will state the case for not listening to music as you need to be listening to your breathing, your body, your heart-rate, your cranks turning in rhythm with your effort. Others (especially here in Switzerland/France) will say you shouldn't listen to music when you're cycling as you might not hear the traffic around you and end up on the bonnet (hood) of a car or a lorry. There's also the argument (which I can appreciate) that you should simply be listening to the world around you: nature, birds, animals, the roar of the wind in your ears.
Personally, I love listening to music when I'm out on the road on my own. If you're on a long bike ride and reaching the point where your lungs feel like they're going to explode, you've tried three or four hand positions on your bidon and still can't get comfy, your legs feel like they are going to spontaneously combust due to over-use and your heart feels like it's pumping so hard it's going to jump right out of your chest and make a nasty mess on the road, there's nothing better than an old party tune coming on from your ipod and taking you away to a better place. Likewise, sometimes when you're in a sorry nick climbing up a relentless hill (is it really already two hours I've been climbing this damn hill, when do I at least see the top??) it's great to hear some mellow tunes to soothe the pain, chill out and remind yourself that you will get there eventually and no-one is going to die.
What I've tried to do below is list out some of the music that I find helps me to either numb the pain or keep me motivated during some of the gruelling training rides that we're going to have to do (we're in this together!). Of course, you will mix up your music with playlists and all that good stuff, here's what I use for a high percentage of my training rides:
(PS I have had to really limit myself here in the interests of time as this list could be endless)Primal Scream: ageing Scottish rockers. Why this album, some of you may ask? Not so many high BPM tracks to help keep your cadence up, but the quality of the album is just great and it takes you on a journey : highs and lows - great for a long rolling ride. Higher than the Sun is great to listen to when you are taking a breather at the top of a mountain.
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This duo are absolutely massive in their native France. Some of their tracks are not for the faint hearted (read high energy techno), but I guarantee you that listening to Brainwasher if you are struggling climbing up a lung-buster will make you forget all about your legs and you'll be pumping at high revs before you know it. Some people might recognise Technologic from an apple advert on the TV.
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Okay, so you're probably thinking " who is this guy and does he have no imagination?" It's simple, I just love Daft Punk when I'm turning the pedals. i can't believe that this one is already 12 years old. Tracks 7 and 8 (around the world and rollin and scratchin') are the best and are real painkillers. The interludes can be a bit annoying, just delete them from your playlist and you'll be fine. Also, the étape is in France so I really should salute some French music...
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Are you starting to see a pattern here? High BPM music? This album includes some real classics from the mid-90's. Mixed by DJ Slipmatt, who I saw a few times, but have to admit I wasn't really bothered who was spinning the records, more about the music that was actually coming out the speakers. The thing I love about this CD is it makes me feel young again - if you could dance all night then you can cycle for a few hours, can't you??
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Now for a change in tempo. I assume that most of you know U2 (if not where have you been?) - this was the first album of theirs that I bought and I vividly remember singing a lot of these songs at the top of my not-yet-broken voice at school discos back in the days when boys still danced with girls. Apart from the obvious anthem Sunday Bloody Sunday, I'd go for Two Hearts Beat as One for its raw sound, very far removed from their slickly produced albums of today. Listening to this reminds me of being a very energetic teenager, which can be good if you're struggling on 10% plus gradient.
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Cream was/still is a Superclub that kicked off in the early 90s and this, for me, is their best compilation. I went to Cream a couple of times in Liverpool, driving down by car from Glasgow. Some of the tracks in here are classic - from bucket heads to the classic "glasgow tracks" of Positive Education and Acperience. I dare you to listen to this album without pusher harder or faster on the pedals than you did before this came on..
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Inner City were, for me, the classic Chicago House sound, a real mix of soulful, gospel vocals and deep, deep techno. The two tracks on this that I love the best are One Nation - turn it up really loud and hammer on the pedals when the electronic finale kicks in - and Let It Reign - a real crossover track blending a few different styles of music but still having a real mindblowing mix. When you're on your bike you'll be thinking - "hill, what hill, it's just me and the music"..LOVE IT - NO PAIN !!
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