My Songs of the Day

Several people have asked me about my songs of the day on my coast to coast bicycle adventure. Why did I do that? What did I do with those songs? How did I choose them?

Here is the entire playlist at the click of a button

Music has always been a big part of my life. I frequently have music on in the background when I am working or even reading and I often use it for inspiration. Though there was plenty of audio reading, podcasting, or just silence while riding on long country roads, I also listened to music. Especially when I needed a boost when climbing or getting through the end of the 120–130 milers. Or sometimes I used songs to get psyched or reflect my mood at the beginning of the day. For example, Deep Purple’s Highway Star on our first day or Chicago’s Alive Again when I started riding again after two days of illness.

Sometimes I chose a song because the title was apropos for where we were. For example, John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High, Allman Brother’s Southbound, or Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama. Other times I chose songs that had a good riding groove like LCD Soundsystem’s Daft Punk Is Playing at My House, Feel it Still by Portugal. The Man [sic], or Time Tough by Toots and the Maytels. Or songs that just created energy like Arcade Fire’s Wake up or Xanadu by Rush. And finally, I knew almost as soon as I conceived the trip that Todd Rundgren’s Just One Victory would be the theme song for the last day.

I shared the song of the day in each of my daily blog posts but here is the entire playlist at the click of a button. It’s a fun way for me to relive the trip and I hope you enjoy it as well.