Play These Cycling Songs to Power Through Your Ride

Use this throwback playlist to find music that matches your speed exactly.

Updated on July 28, 2022

Person listening to music with wired headphones while cycling — Getty Images.

Put simply, it can be pretty tough to sync music to your cycling workout. To know which tempo will work best, you need to know your pedaling speed — but your speed will fluctuate throughout your ride, so you'll need to vary the songs to match up. And not everyone can gauge the tempo and precise beats per minute (BPM) of the songs they love.

If you're sick of feeling like you're riding off-beat or think that your current cycling playlist just isn't keeping you motivated during your ride, try the cycling songs below. The BPE of each song has already been calculated, and they range from 70 BPM to 150 BPM — with one song for each 10 BPM addition. Incorporating these songs into a routine will let you find the tempo that works best for you. (ICYDK, here's how indoor cycling benefits your mental and physical health.)

Even better, this playlist is full of throwbacks from the early 2010s, which are sure to have you reminiscing while you ride. Seriously, what's more energizing than queuing up a song that you used to love and haven't heard in years?! Hits from artists such as One Direction, Fun., and Icona Pop will get you through the rolling hills and flat roads of your favorite cycling routine. (Then try this running playlist during your next treadmill workout.)

If you want to make your own playlist of cycling songs, the Run Hundred database will be your new best friend. The site may look bare-bones, but it's a great tool for creating workout playlists to match your speed with the tempo of your favorite tunes. You can browse by genre, tempo, and era to find the best songs to rock any workout.

Here's the full playlist of throwback cycling songs, starting at 70 BPM:

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