10 songs to get you back in the saddle

Crank up the tunes, dim the lights, and hop on that stationary bike. The right music can make or break your indoor cycling class—it’s a huge part of the motivation and the fun (wearing the right gear is essential, too). This 45-minute playlist will keep you going when you need a little kick in the pants.

1 . Warren G ft. Nate Dogg
Regulate
We can’t get enough of this medium-paced, hip-hop classic recorded inside a closet at Warren G’s San Antonio apartment. It’s the perfect track to get you warmed up once you’re back on the saddle.

2. Oliver
Light Years Away
Sometimes all you need to get in the zone is a song with minimal lyrics, some retro synths and a thick beat. This one fits the bill.

3. Jay Z
I Just Wanna Love You (Give it 2 Me)
Jay Z with a side of Pharell Williams? We’ll take it. This fun, playful tune was Jay Z’s first single to reach number one on the Hip-Hop/R&B chart—the ideal track to take us to the top of those heavy hills.

4. Calvin Harris ft. Big Sean
Open Wide
Big Sean’s rhymes share the spotlight with Calvin’s beats in this windows-down track—spot on for sprints and alternating interval levels in and out of the saddle.

5. Disclosure
When a Fire Starts to Burn (Steezmonks Remix)
There’s nothing like a good remix to change things up. The variations in this song make it a prime track for light sprint intervals.

6. Kanye West
Black Skinhead
The heavy beat in this quick-and-dirty collab with French electronic duo Daft Punk was made for climbing and cranking up the tension.

7. Eminem ft. Nate Dogg
Shake That Ass
We love a throwback. This one is great for following a climb (and for working those glutes).

8. Oliver Heldens
Gecko (Overdrive) (Lost Kings Remix)
Crank this track by the 19-year-old Dutch DJ and producer up loud and climb to it with sprints.

9. RJD2
Ghostwriter
Instrumental and with light guitar riffs, use this to start slowing down—great for easing out of a really heavy climb or heavy sprint session.

10. Coldplay
Midnight
Who doesn’t love a good croon from Chris Martin? This icy single is the ideal cool down song. Now you can sit back, relax and revel in the fact you just burned at least 500 calories. (And refuel with these pesto zucchini noodles.)

Never tried an indoor cycling class? Check out these five tips to make your first class a breeze.

Giulia is our creative athletic stylist. When she isn’t traveling, you’ll find her in our sample closet or sweating it out hard teaching at Ride Cycle Club. Passionate about coaching and leadership, Giulia has goals of writing a book and becoming a speaker at TED. Follow her adventures on Instagram.