Fifty Plus (50+) - Great hill climbing music

In a recent thread folks were discussing what songs they hummed when they rode. Sadly, the thread degenerated into an ear-wormfest, with people bringing up music which was capable of triggering PTSD. It was awful.

Sometimes truly great music reverberates in your noggin. It could never be designated as an ear-worm, like anything written by Bach or Mozart.

On today's ride I was "listening" to Brahms 4th Symphony, 4th movement. It is excellent hill-climbing music.

It starts off very methodical and picks up tempo as you progress through the movement, like slowly warming up on a ride. Then as the music reaches the climax (get your minds out of the gutter, please) the tempo slows to about what my cadence drops down to when I go up a steep hill. Finally the entire orchestra, as it climbs in tonality, writhes in pain and tension, only to die quickly at the end of the movement. Kind of like my ride today.

That is all.

let's see...what is that funeral march called?

Down here, I'm afraid to listen to music while riding. Can't hear all the beer bottles rattling around in Bubba's pickup truck when he comes down on the the two lane roads backroading drinking beer. Anyway, George Strait is considered classical where I live; however, when I get home I prefer Pavrotti sing Nessen Dorma and Pink Floyd's Distant Sound of Thunder.

I'm not listening to music when I ride because I don't think it's safe. I'm "listening". Better music than The Voices. They get on my nerves.

I find "It's a Small World," by Richard and Roberet Sherman, famed for their Mary Poppins work, to be an excellent hill climbing song. In case you've forgotten the lyrics, here they are:

t's a world of laughter,
A world of tears.
It's a world of hopes,
And a world of fears.
There's so much that we share,
That it's time we're aware,
It's a small world after all.

Chorus:
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world.

There is just one moon,
And one golden sun.
And a smile means,
Friendship to every one.
Though the mountains divide,
And the oceans are wide,
It's a small world after all.

Chorus:
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world.

whuh, whew
Whuh, whew
WHUH, whew
WHUH, whew
WHUH, HUH, whew

Stairway to Heaven?

Or ...

Ride of the Valkyries

Which always makes me think of the line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

Or ...

Ride of the Valkyries

Which always makes me think of the line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

That would be good*.

I think any big southern gospel choir music would be fine.

Or ...

Ride of the Valkyries

Which always makes me think of the line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

Coincidence. I was wishing I had Ride-of-the-Valkyries on my ride this morning and also remembered Apocolypse-Now lines. "I like to play Wagner --It scares the hell out 'em"

(I have a Sheffield Direct-to-Disc recording of Wagner's Ride.. Does anybody remember those Sheffield recordings?)

I own about 5 of the Sheffield DtoD albums.

How about a group ride where we all sing the Macarena!

Back in the day before portable CD and, well obviously, mp3 players, I used to carry my walkman with...and this is not a joke....the Tour de France soundtrack done by John Tesch. I also found that Morrisey was suprisingly good music to ride to. These days I listen to ambient trance mostly, whether I'm riding or not.

In tribute to The Sopranos

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.

let's see...what is that funeral march called?

Well, you could try Beethoven's third symphony, movement #2, and, on a bike, it most probably only works uphill, a very steep hill, in low or no traffic. Otherwise, you will not be able to hear it.

Caruso

I'm not listening to music when I ride because I don't think it's safe. I'm "listening". Better music than The Voices. They get on my nerves.

I heard some of those little voices talking to me the other day on a ride and they scared the crap out of me. Later I discovered my cell phone was on "driving mode" and had been talking to me:o How it got there I don't know but the granddaughter fixed it for me after I arrived home.

Climbing music is part of every ride for me, unless I am with a very large group. Then, you need to pay attention. I live in a very hilly region north of Atlanta, foothills. I live off of Ridge Road, so named because it is the continental divide. Water flows into either the Atlantic or the Gulf depending which side rain falls on.

To ride on the road with a radio, you must possess excellent hearing so you can monitor traffic and you cannot ride with high volume. It needs to be a background noise, not your focus.

I need the diversion when climbing to keep from focusing on the pain. It's hard to find music w/80-95 beats/minute to match cadence. I have music from Madonna, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eddie and the Cruisers, etc. Good sound and a great beat are all you need. Just never ignore traffic. I use an I-pod w/Koss over the ear headphones. Imagine trying to pull down a rider up the road listening to "Baby's Got Back!":) :) :)

This (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blackeyedpeas/myhumps.html)is what Big Paulie listens to while climbing hills.

The other day I had the misfortune, while approaching a good hill, to see a sign for a resort called "Green Acres."

That was it for the rest of the ride.

Farm livin' is the life for me

We're off to see the wizzard.

Another epic hill-climbing piece would be Berlioz' Symphony Fantastique, 4th movement.

Greigs Piano Concerto in A.

Also Golden Earing, Radar Love

Hill climbing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHJErrp4eOw) (youtube)

I saw a funny saying the other day: You know you're getting old when you find yourself thinking "Boy, this grocery store is playing great* music."

Hill climbing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHJErrp4eOw) (youtube)

OK, I know he was pedaling really fast so his feet were blurry, but doesn't it look like he's wearing black loafers?

OK, I know he was pedaling really fast so his feet were blurry, but doesn't it look like he's wearing black loafers?
That was pretty cool. I like Eurotrashesque ElectroWeenie music anyway. You don't have to worry about forgetting parts of it.

The only sounds I hear when I'm climbing is the THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of my heart trying to keep up with what I'm demanding from it.

Being ex-Marine- I love listening to any military music. Cadence remains the same and when those steep bits hit- Seems to be the ideal cadence for me.

The I Pod is filled with staus Quo, Hooker, A bit of Queen----Anything with a rousing beat- but for those hills- I prefer a cadence that is just a bit more than I find comfortable- because if it is Comfortable- I slow down.

The thought that comes to my mind when I'm huffing and puffing my way up a hill comes from "The Little Engine that Could" ... I think I can! I think I can!

La Cucaracha! :D

Hill climbing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHJErrp4eOw) (youtube)
It looked like Lance was wearing penny loafers!:eek: Oops. Guess I should've read to the end.

Chorus:
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world.

Chorus:
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world.


I have heard of people rigging the lid on their toilets to play this when lifted. Sure would make me think.

I do not listen to music when I ride -- it's a safety thing. However, if I did have a hill-climbing tune it would be "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams. ;)

ZZ Top

I guess I'm going to have to pay closer attention to the tunes in my head while I ride.... I can't think of any now.

Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
No one will be watching us
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
No one will be watching us
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
Why don't we do it in the road
No one will be watching us
Why don't we do it in the road

Pinetop Perkins Piano Blues. The man has got the rythm. bk

Pinetop Perkins Piano Blues. The man has got the rythm. bk
+1. I love Pinetop!

When I cycle toured in Austria I sang "The hills are alive with the sound of music".

Theme from Peter Gunn!

For a real grinding hill climb, another one from the White Album - Ringo's "Don't Pass Me By" - wish they would play it in my spin class!

Actually the funeral dirge is from a piece classical music by Bach or Beethoven, I can not remember which one. I heard at the Symphony Hall in Boston.

Best hill climbing music is to hear myself saying "on your left" all the way up the hill... :D

Kraftwerk - Tour de France (http://www.kraftwerk.com/flash/load_com.htm) - no really folks
If that doesn't work, then
Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield...extended version!