Climbing, Descending & the Blues

We few, we happy few, we band of cyclists...

Been giving serious road training more than a cursively thought of late, now being in possession of a decent road rig. Actually have a pretty reasonable stable of bikes. Going back a few weeks, the prep for the 100km Irene Plowman didn't quite go to plan so I thought it a good compromise to assist cooking food at the Audax checkpoint instead......five dozen eggs and approx 2kg of bacon later......


Spot the Skillsy, Checkpoint at Port Melbourne, photo courtesy of Gordon Macmillan

Anyway, being a sensible type, one is not a aficionado of earphones-earpods-whatever whilst riding, but just what would be (hypothetically) groovy to listen to while either climbing or descending? A biased selection based upon the same artist for both the climb & the fun bit on the other side of the hill:

Roxy Music, 'Both Ends Burning', 'Price of Love' (cue the trumpet)
Sparks, 'Angst in My Pants', 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us'
Iggy Pop, 'The Passenger', 'Lust for Life'
Killing Joke, 'Dominator', '(Lets all go to the) Fire Dances'
Count Basie, 'One o' Clock Jump', 'Jumping At The Woodside'
Madness, 'Nightboat to Cairo', 'One Step Beyond'
TISM, 'Get Thee To A Nunnery' , 'Greg The Stop Sign'

Possible combo: The Atlantics 'Bombora', and The Tornados 'Telstar'. Or the other way around if you wish. Cue: Wind Trainer & big flat screen telly. Yes I am entering an premature Old Biddy phase, tedious anaemic crap like what passes for RN'B ('young persons music'), has an unnerving ability to turn me mildly psychotic. Rhythm and Blues, wasn't that once the domain of Howlin' Wolf, Ray Charles, Percy Sledge, Booker T & The MGs and Screamin' Jay Hawkins? Now it's a crock of electronic farts, softcore p0rn, & pop tarts (of both genders). In short, utter crap. Oh sorry, we were discussing training techniques and went all tangiental. Heres a nice piccie to visualise too ( cue: the 'chorus bit' Telstar theme) lalala-lalala-LA-lalalaalala