Does anyone sing on their bike?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just curious. I know lots of people sing in the shower or in their car.

I actually perform singing sometimes, and I used to practice my singing while driving my car, for about 4 hours a week. Now I hardly ever drive and I bike a lot, but feel a little too funny about singing while I'm biking. I also hesitate because it might block out safety sounds.

So does anyone sing while cycling? :cool: If so, what were your experiences?

[han-grrl]

its usually when i am climbing and it goes something like this...
http://www.vcei.org/tbp-words.htm

no i'm not kidding, it seems to make the hills go faster!:D :D :D

[chutch]

All the time. I am not a good singer at all, but I love it. If I'm riding by myself I'll usually have a song stuck in my head anyway so I'll start singing if the mood hits. Usually it's on long descents or flat sections. If I need some positive reinforcement, I'll change the words of a song and sing about how fast I am or how quickly I am going up a hill.

So far I've not embarrassed myself, but the roads I'm on are pretty quiet without many people around.

:p

[Bad JuJu]

All the time. I am not a good singer at all, but I love it. If I'm riding by myself I'll usually have a song stuck in my head anyway so I'll start singing if the mood hits. Usually it's on long descents or flat sections. If I need some positive reinforcement, I'll change the words of a song and sing about how fast I am or how quickly I am going up a hill.

So far I've not embarrassed myself, but the roads I'm on are pretty quiet without many people around.

:p
Pretty much the same as my experience. I get a song stuck in my head and it plays like a loop in my head while I sing along--as loud or soft as I want to. Currently, it's Neil Young's "Long May You Run" on the flats: "With your chrome heart shining/In the sun/Long may you run." On descents, I hum along to the Wicked Witch's theme from The Wizard of Oz. On uphills, it varies.

BUT, I only do this when I'm riding alone.:o

[csr1210]

"All the time. I am not a good singer at all, but I love it. If I'm riding by myself I'll usually have a song stuck in my head anyway so I'll start singing if the mood hits. Usually it's on long descents or flat sections. If I need some positive reinforcement, I'll change the words of a song and sing about how fast I am or how quickly I am going up a hill.

So far I've not embarrassed myself, but the roads I'm on are pretty quiet without many people around."

That's pretty much what I was gonna say (except not on long descents -- more like on long hills for me! and NOT about how fast I'm going up:rolleyes: )

My bike even has her own theme song -- Windy -- cause that's her name, so it just kinda fits, in a personification sort of way....

(Another) Christy

[Kimmyt]

was singing Part time model from Flight of the Conchords today. Haha.

looking round the room
i can see that you
are the most beautiful girl in the
room

and when you're on the street
i bet that you are definitely
in the top three
*dependant on the street


you're so beautiful
you could a waitress

you're so beautiful
you could be a part
time
model


<3 The drivers must have thought i was a crazy person talking to myself

[indigoiis]

Someone sent me this track from Tremelo. It's very very catchy and fast - good for cadence. I play it in my car the night before a ride, several times, so it sticks in my head the next day. I highly recommend it for download:

Tremelo - You were born for this

I see you not like you do
Not the part but the whole
Stage lights on now take your cue
Alright, Alright, Alright...

Why so scared of your shadow
Prisoner of your own life
Sleeping on your star of gold
Alright, Alright, Alright...

You were born for this
You were born for this
C’mon light it up it’s your life you don’t want to miss
You were born for this
You were born for this
C’mon light it up it’s your life you don’t want to miss You,
You don’t want to miss you
You don’t want to miss you
Alright, Alright, I said Alright...

No one else can play your part
Liberate all of your dreams
Speak the lines within your heart


(same chorus as above)

Don’t believe in the rules
Don’t believe in the stars
I believe you were made for your life
yes you are alright, alright, I said alright

(chorus.)

[Zen]

I sing to my bike.

Sometimes when I'm rolling along at a good clip "the Mexican Hat Dance" tune pops into my head.

[RolliePollie]

I also get songs stuck in my head. Today it was an old Lionel Richie tune...I really wanted it to go away, but of course, once a song gets stuck in your brain like that, it's quite difficult to change it. I generally do not sing out loud though. But the rhythm of whatever song is stuck in my head must always fit in with my cadence.

Today on my ride I was composing a poem about goatheads. Maybe I'll post it here once I get it fine tuned.

[HillSlugger]

I get songs stuck in my head all the time while exercising but I never sing out loud. I think it would mess up my breathing.

[ginny]

yup - I sing, whistle, hum ... you name it. My friends think I'm the crazy lady on the bike. Though, I work in a lab, and I frequently sing / hum / whistle there too completely forgetting that everyone can hear me in the hall :p tee hee ... I guess I just don't care that much.

[Lakegirl]

Well this is my very first post (have been lurking for a while) and I had to respond because YES! I usually start singing old Girl Scout songs while climbing a really steep hill. Somehow it seems to help, :confused: but it drives my boyfriend crazy!!

[singletrackmind]

When I used to race mtb's yes, I'd sing on particularly great downhill sections. At the top of my lungs. With a huge smile plastered on my face. :D

[Geonz]

I sing, occasionally unabashedly. After all, most people are pleasantly surprised by song and my voice isn't amazing but it's generally not painful to listen to. When I had a motorcycle I'd tape lyrics to the gas tank and be my own radio. I'll make up songs ... there's one threatening to hatch right now about the "how're you gonna bonk me jubilation blues" (something about somebody who's taking me further and pushing me harder... and which kind of bonk will come at the end... and that it doesn't matter, I'll 'recover' either way ;) :p )

And sometimes I'll sing on a long ride with a group, but I have to guess whether it will be a distraction or a demoralizer. When you're on a 35-pound bike going uphill and passing somebody on a litespeed, singing is considered rubbing his nose in it (not that I would *know* ;) ) ;)

[MomOnBike]

DH & I slow down and sing rounds in a certain tunnel on one of the local paths. We like the way it resonates. If the girls are along, we do it in four parts. (OK, we're music geeks :rolleyes: )

[Thorn]

My bike even has her own theme song -- Windy -- cause that's her name, so it just kinda fits, in a personification sort of way....

Oh nooooooo.....now that song is going to get added to the repetoire...I had to memorize that one for marching band (it was a much newer song then). Very appropriate.

Personally, the one that gets stuck in my head the most is the Simon and Garfunkel song (don't remember the title)..."slow down, you move to fast....You've gotta make the morning last...."

[csr1210]

RE: Bike named Windy

It's a multi-meaning name (with multiple songs on the soundtrack:o )

She's fast like the wind (compared to my mountain bike that I rode on the road.

It's a bad wind day - then she's "Riding(running) against the wind"
It's a bad hill day - she's (I'm) "Dust in the Wind"

I'm sure there are more, but that's what comes to mind right now....

Yes, I AM a nerd!

Back to thread topic -- Sometimes the songs just go on in my head, but when I do sing, it's not usually TOO loud.

[Geonz]

"Feelin' Groovy" (the 59th Street Bridge Song) happens to be one of the songs I'll let leak out, since I figure it might just cause a pleasant flashback for somebody. Lookin' for love and feelin' grooooovy :) :)

[crazybikinchic]

Lately its been "I Feel Good". Yes, I sing out loud, with a group of people. The other day I was singing "Let It Snow". It was incredibly hot and I was trying to think cool.:D

[Tuckervill]

Just curious. I know lots of people sing in the shower or in their car.

I actually perform singing sometimes, and I used to practice my singing while driving my car, for about 4 hours a week. Now I hardly ever drive and I bike a lot, but feel a little too funny about singing while I'm biking. I also hesitate because it might block out safety sounds.

So does anyone sing while cycling? :cool: If so, what were your experiences?

Absolutely. As much as possible, whatever song comes to mind. And I whistle a lot, too. I whistle when I run out of breath from singing while playing my ukulele. The whistling kind of takes the same place as the singing, but when I'm too winded to sing I whistle.

I often sing or whistle to alert a snoozing dog in the distance that I'm coming by. I like to see before I get into its territory whether it's chained or not.

Now, I don't perform anywhere, so I don't concentrate too much on what I'm singing. I don't think it would ever interfere with hearing cars or what have you. It's just singing a happy tune, intermittently, as conditions permit.

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

On a hill climb:


American Pie

Bohemian Rhapsody
Yes, I know ALL the words

[Tuckervill]

On a hill climb:


American Pie

Bohemian Rhapsody
Yes, I know ALL the words

uh. Who doesn't? ;)

Even my 13 yo knows Bohemian Rhapsody (from Wayne's World, which led him to be a huge Queen fan).

Karen

[Kimmyt]

what, no bicycle race?

i want to ride my bicycle i want to ride my biiiiiiiike

:D

[luv'nAustin]

I like to sing "The Long Way Round" when I'm cruising down the flat country roads. However, I have to make up most of the words to fit my mood and surroundings and I usually change the chorus to "Take the Long Way Home"

[Zen]

Personally, the one that gets stuck in my head the most is the Simon and Garfunkel song (don't remember the title)..."slow down, you move to fast....You've gotta make the morning last...."

What makes you sing that?
Are you Feelin Groovy?:p
it's really the 59th Street bridge Song

GEONZ I like that song already. put it on You Tube for us:D

[divingbiker]

A few weeks ago on my morning commute, I saw a man wearing an orange-sherbet colored striped shirt with a matching tie, and I thought to myself that he looked like a dandy.

That led me to the old New Christy Minstrels song Today (http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5542/Today.html) that has the line "I'll be a dandy and I'll be a rover, you'll know who I am by the song that I sing." (The old folks in the crowd will remember it.)

I sang that song out loud for weeks while commuting. People looked at me funny, but in a nice way, not in a "she's weird" way. At least that's what I told myself...:)

[lauraelmore1033]

For some reason, ElO's "Mr Blue Sky" pops into my head as I climb certain hills and I find myself humming it. I think it might be because the beat of the song matches the cadence I naturally fall into. I still love the song, even though it's sort of an intrusion into my thoughts. So happy and bouncy.

[RoadRaven]

Mr Silver - I do a version of Bohemian Rhapsody too!!! It has a good rythym on a training ride

I sing, but usually when on my own and I have surprised a few fellow Ramblers who have caught and passed me, calling out hello only to realise I am in full song!

I have sung with intent to put others off in races... force out a song if I have enough breath as I pass others to try and psyche them into thinking I am finding it a breeze... Melissa Etheridge or Beth Hart are good for that situation as they are supposed to sound throaty and raw :)

[Mr. Bloom]

uh. Who doesn't? ;)

Even my 13 yo knows Bohemian Rhapsody (from Wayne's World, which led him to be a huge Queen fan).

Karen

uh...Silver doesn't:eek: :eek:

I like Buffett too...
don't want to land in New York City, don't want to land in Mexico
don't want to land on no Three Mile Island, don't want to see my skin aglow
don't want to land in Commanche Sky Park, or in Nashville Tennessee
don't want to land in San Juan Airport, or the Yukon Territory
don't want to land in no San Diego, don't want to land in no buzzard bay
don't want to land on no ayatollah, I got nothing more to say.

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know where I'm a gonna go when I finish climbin' this hill:D

[crazycanuck]

Umm Mr Silver..American pie? Wouldn't that make you sleep? Good song but kinda slow for a bike ride..Unless you're doing a victory lap!

I don''t sing on my rides but I have memorized quite a few songs...K..Lately i've had "Driven By You' by Brian May, "39" by Queen, " Shove it" By the Cross," Groove is in the heart" by deeeeeee-lite and I Was Made for Lovin you" By Kiss...

C

[Lise]

Yep, I love to sing on the bike. Favorites: Amazing Grace, Amarillo By Morning.

I also sing magic spell songs to control the cars around me. For some reason, I usually make up songs in Spanish. The tune is almost always "Frere Jacque". For example: "Adelante, adelante, muevate! Muevate! No te pares a-qui, no te pares a-qui, muevate, muevate!" (hurry up, hurry up, move it! Move it! Don't stop he-re, don't stop he-re, move along! move along!)

I think American Pie would be a good bike song. I just don't know all the words! :rolleyes:

[Lise]

That led me to the old New Christy Minstrels song Today (http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5542/Today.html) that has the line "I'll be a dandy and I'll be a rover, you'll know who I am by the song that I sing." (The old folks in the crowd will remember it.) :)
Oh. Crud. I'm officially old. I think I saw them sing that song on the Andy Williams show or something like it...:eek: :p

[Thorn]

What makes you sing that?
Are you Feelin Groovy?:p
it's really the 59th Street bridge Song


:D No, usually, it pops into the head when I'm pushing the pace...I wanna be out there longer, not shorter!

When I'm dragging, it is the Rawhide theme...Rolling, rolling, rolling...keep those bikes a rollin (memorize the words? Heck, no! Make 'em up as you go a long--never the same song twice! Never boring!)

And, when I'm riding down a road that was once a pretty rural road, but isn't anymore...."little boxes on the hillside...little boxes made of ticky tacky" (Pete Seeger sang it) or Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi..."they paved paradise to put up a parking lot..."

Wow....I'm really dating myself, aren't I? No, wait, I love retro music! Yeah, that's it!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

For some reason, I usually make up songs in Spanish. The tune is almost always "Frere Jacque". For example: "Adelante, adelante, muevate! Muevate! No te pares a-qui, no te pares a-qui, muevate, muevate!" (hurry up, hurry up, move it! Move it! Don't stop he-re, don't stop he-re, move along! move along!)


Oooh, I like that! I speak Spanish, so I could do that too! :p

New Christy Minstrels? Andy Williams?......AAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! Save me!!!! :eek: :eek: :( :(


Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them dogies rollin'
Rawhide! (insert whip crack sound here)
Rain and wind and weather
Hell-bent for leather
Wishin' my gal was by my side.
All the things I'm missin',
Good vittles, love, and kissin',
Are waiting at the end of my ride

[divingbiker]

New Christy Minstrels? Andy Williams?......AAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! Save me!!!! :eek: :eek: :( :(

Hey, you started it!

Now "Today" is going to careen around in your brain forever and you will never be able to sing anything else on your bike ever again!

hahahahahahaha.....:p ;)

[Geonz]

J.K. Rowling said students used to sing Rawhide! about her when she was an English teacher. (Rowling, Rowling, Rowling...)

"Little boxes" is the song that steered me down the path of Pete Seeger etc. for life... heard it on Sesame Street. When I got my first record player, after I bought 3 John Denver albums with my allowance money (not at the same time - those things were $5.99, a lot of dough!) I remember wavering between a Fairport Convention album and... PEte Seeger's We Shall Overcome, because it had Little Boxes on it. Pete won, and I've never been the same since.
Last week Peter Yarrow dropped in to Mary Cliff's radio show. I'd say it was a flashback, except it's never *really* gone away to 'flash' back. Lots of these folks are still playing.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Now "Today" is going to careen around in your brain forever and you will never be able to sing anything else on your bike ever again!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[HillSlugger]

what, no bicycle race?

i want to ride my bicycle i want to ride my biiiiiiiike

:D

That's sorta my overall biking theme!

On my Sunday morning rides I often have the roads all to myself. Then, I tend to get the Train song "Cab" running though my head:

"Sometimes I think I'm the only cab on the road".

I've noticed lately when the riding gets really hard all rational thought disappears. No affirmations, no nothing, just the effort.

[Thorn]

Synchronicity....on our short ride today there was a little kid out playing make all those squealing kid playing noises...but as we passed the scream that came out was just like the scream on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album at the intro to the song Breathe in the Air.

Hmmm...appropriate for the top of that little incline, but the bulk of the words are rather depressing....well, time to start making up new words for that one....

[margo49]

The English classics:

Daisy, Daisy,
give me your answer do
I'm half crazy ,
all for the love of you
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet
Upon the seat
of a bicycle built for two

I always made a point of singing it to the children when they were little and we were riding.

and The Gypsy Rover

[cwodiva]

And, when I'm riding down a road that was once a pretty rural road, but isn't anymore...."little boxes on the hillside...little boxes made of ticky tacky" (Pete Seeger sang it)
Wow....I'm really dating myself, aren't I? No, wait, I love retro music! Yeah, that's it![/QUOTE]

I love Pet Seeger and that is such a great song! I sing that one too. :p

[cwodiva]

When I get dropped in a road race and I'm out in the middle of bfe Georgia or Florida, the song "All by myself" pops in my head

All by myself
Don't wanna be
All by myself
Anymore....

and I have my own little pity party until I can get it together again... haha!



I sing a lot on my rides, or hum to myself.

[RoadRaven]

Have been thinking about this... and you know, since it came up in the thread about the Sesame Street 'YipYips' a couple of weeks ago, I have "sung" the yip yip song.

It works in "slo-mo" when grinding up a hill... yip...(then breath in) yip...(then breath in) yip...(then breath in) yip...(then breath in) yip...(then breath in) yip...(then breath in) yip...(breath in) aha... aha...

... and all the way to the top of the climb...

yip yip...

[Mr. Bloom]

Umm Mr Silver..American pie? Wouldn't that make you sleep? Good song but kinda slow for a bike ride..
C

Not when you sing it fast!

Nobody has mentioned "Bicycle Race" by Queen...not very interesting words, but appropriate theme...

[annie]

I sing to myself all the time! A wordless, rythmic tune that works along with my pedaling stroke. I think if anyone actually heard me, I'd would die of embarrasment! I admire all of you who have actual songs that you ride to.

[Trekhawk]

The English classics:

Daisy, Daisy,
give me your answer do
I'm half crazy ,
all for the love of you
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet
Upon the seat
of a bicycle built for two

I always made a point of singing it to the children when they were little and we were riding.

and The Gypsy Rover

LOL - Im always singing this song and it drives my kids nuts.:D

[Scarlet]

Hi Lisa
i find my breathin is better if i sing espesh if doing a steady uphill as opposed to a short sharp hill...cant sing and breave fast enuf!!!
i sing whatever i find comes into my mind but have been surprised when someone comes by or i come to a pub with peeps outside (oops i have a crap singin voice)
i sometimes take my ipod (one ear only plugged in ) and cant stop myself singing along its ace and if i am on my own it helps pass the miles.
my mantra is not a song for uphill big climbs tho
its ....
*uck *uck * cluckety cluck
i find that helps me ............. i do not say this out loud tho!!!
scarlet
the nasty mouthed cyclist!!!

[Zen]

New Christy Minstrels? Andy Williams?......AAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! Save me!!!! :eek: :eek: :( :(

Ha!
That's nothing.
The other day for some unknown reason Mitch Miller and his bouncing ball popped into my head.
I hate when he does that.
(of course I was only 1 when that show was on:p )

[AllezGirl]

If I actually sang out loud, I'd probably be banned from the group ride...my voice is that bad! :eek: But there's a guy who rides with us that sings and whistles, and I love it!

The song that always goes thru my head on a hilly ride is "Ain't no Mountain High Enough". Gets me thru every time!

When I'm alone on the local path (don't crucify me, I only listen on the path, at "low traffic" times, to the right, at low volume and going too freaking fast for anyone to sneak up on me :cool: ) I have a playlist on my iPod. My absolute favorite song is "Move Along"...best high cadence song ever!

[slmdunc]

THIS is why I love this forum! You gals are my heroes! :o

[Python]

The Pushbike Song by Mungo Jerry (circa 1970).

Sh, sh, ahh,Sh, sh, ahh,
Sh, sh, ahh,Sh, sh, ahh,

Ridin’ along on my pushbike, honey
When I nowhere near you
Round down town, in a hurry honey,
You look so pretty, she was ridin’ along,
Now, I’ve got my sights on you

You look so pretty, She was singing this song,….
Sh, sh, ahh,Sh, sh, ahh,
Ahh,
Sh, sh, ahh,Sh, sh, ahh,

Were pedaling harder, too
Puttin’ on speed, as I tried catchin’ up but you
Riding along like a hurricane, honey
You look so pretty, she was ridin’ along,

Speeding afta you,
You look so pretty, She was singing this song,….

Brrr, Sing this song,
Round, round wheels go round and round
Down, up pedals, down, up, down
B’fore the sun goes down,
Well,gotta get across to the other side of town
hey, hey
Shh, shh, ahh,Shh, shh, ahh,

Shh, sh, ahh,Sh, sh, ahh,

Well, we’re ridin’ along
In the rearview mirror
on a bicylce, honey
That’s a bicycle built for two
Lookin’ at my honey
Now I got a better of view
You look so pretty, she was ridin’ along,

You look so pretty, She was singing this song,….
Sing this song,
Down, up pedals, down, up, down
B’fore the sun goes down,
Round, round wheels go round and round
Well,gotta get across to the other side of town
hey, hey
Shh, shh, ahh,Shh, shh, ahh, Shh, sh, ahh,Sh, sh, ahh,

That song reminds me of when I was a papergirl. One day we let Larry, one of the paperboy's tyres down on his bike...:o

[Righteousbabe]

I am sooooo relieved to see so many of us sing on the bike! I do it all the time and wonder what other riders are thinking of me as they pass me by. LOL! :D

Thanks for starting/contributing to this post! I really enjoyed reading all the responses!!!

I like to sing James Brown's "I Feel Good" when I start to get tired and miserable. But I also sing just about anything else that comes to mind, too. I just like to sing!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I always liked Melanie's old "Roller Skates" song, I used to sing it back in the 60's! :eek: :eek: :p :rolleyes: :cool: Sheesh, was she cute or what?:
It's a great song for biking to. I used to LIVE on my roller skates back then, so I always felt it was a personal theme song for me....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS06L87FVns

here's the lyrics:


I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone, but you got something I need

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and try them out you see
I been looking around awhile
You got something for me
Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key

I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car
Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far
For somebody who don't drive
I been all around the world
Some people say, I done all right for a girl

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and try them out you see
I been looking around awhile
You got something for me
Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key

I asked your mother if you were at home
She said, yes .. but you weren't alone
Oh, sometimes I think that you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone, but you've got something I need

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and try them out to see
La la la la la la la la, la la la la la la
Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key

[Cha Cha]

A few weeks ago I caught myself singing the "I Have Confidence" song from "The Sound of Music"! It had been a rough day.... but it helped!