For other profiles, especially higher-energy interval rides, I sometimes want to start with a musical bang and will choose a song with a peppy tempo and message, while still encouraging my riders to be progressive about increasing their intensity. If I am embarking on an endurance or mind-body–focused session, I’ll choose a gently rhythmic instrumental track with fairly low-key energy like an ambient or downtempo track.

I prefer to select songs with limited or no words so I can explain my profile and not compete with the lyrics, but this willl depend on the profile and the group I have in front of me. In that case, I’ll ask riders to find whatever cadence allows them to progressively bring their heart rates up.Įven if you don’t ride to the beat in your classes, you may want to avoid songs that have a heavy dance beat (which are usually 125–135 bpm) during the warm-up, as that might inspire your beat-oriented riders to load on resistance and pedal at a 62–67 rpm despite your pleas to pedal at 80–90 rpm. Most of the time, I try to ride to the beat in the warm-up, but there is the occasional great song that is either too slow or too fast for a proper warm-up. Typically, when I choose a warm-up song, I try to select something with enough energy that would inspire a cadence of 75 to about 95 rpm.

Below are the guidelines I use when selecting warm-up and cool-down songs and some of the exceptions I consider. Of course, personal preference comes into play. There will always be exceptions to every rule about selecting warm-up songs based on the type of profile you have, your audience, and the mood you want to set. While I do have some guidelines that I use for my warm-up song selection, they aren’t set in stone.

Both are every bit as important as your energetic and inspirational songs sandwiched between them. Your warm-up song sets the tone for your class your cool-down song closes the chapter on your ride.

Great new spinning warm up songs