My taste in music runs to the heavy, the loud, and the chaotic, but don’t worry; I’m not going to make you listen to any of it. This is really more about the music in your head when you’re riding your bicycle. Maybe there isn’t any, or maybe there’s one song that comes to you, when you’re in the flow, and it pushes you on to do your very best riding.
I’m going to go ahead and mention a few that have worked for me. Sample at your own discretion.
High on Fire – Rumors of War
Metz – Entwined
Motorhead – Ace of Spades
I’m a simple person really. A driving rhythm, maybe some shouting.
I should be clear that I never wear headphones on the bike. These songs just play on whatever internal speaker I was born with, mostly when I’m having a good time. When things aren’t going well, there’s no music.
On the mountain bike, I also really just enjoy the sound of a loud freewheel. I can imagine not everyone does, but as long as I can hear that buzzy crackle, I know I’m still rolling OR that my riding companion is still with me. Sometimes, when I’m on the front, I like to listen for the freewheel and try to imagine which part of the trail my friends are on.
So, what works for you? Name that tune.
The music in my head is actually playing in my head since I wear bone conduction headphones on all rides. It is possible to make them very loud, but my ears are never blocked so even at their max volume you can still hear everything around you. I set mine no higher than 50% and then it’s just a pleasant soundtrack for me and I can still hear and communicate with whomever.
As for that soundtrack, we share equally awesome tastes as of course I have all of your choices in my playlists. I certainly have brought up every other week from the get go my musical fascinations with Ebullition/Doubt, but here’s one from today: Enforced: Betting on the End https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0otsHKlV33A
Since I work in an environment that has music piped in, everyday something different gets stuck in my head. Luckily the newer pop falls through the cracks in my brain and I’m usually stuck with a song from the ever increasing list of ’80s selections that I grew up on. If the ear worm is something that I regret liking back then, I try force it out by blurting out some Beastie Boys lyrics.
I’m not a big fan of loud freehubs. I prefer to hear the thump of my tires hitting the trail.
I don’t like riding in headphones. The music usually going through my head is Ace of Spades as well as songs by the Supersuckers and Dead Kennedys. Great for riding, not so great that the same songs get stuck in my head at 0300 when I am trying to get back to sleep.
I am agnostic on freehub noise. Current bike has a super quiet freehub. Had a Hugi in the late 90s, I pretty sure that thing was louder than my current 2 stroke trail bike.