Honoring Dolly Parton: Best Indoor Cycling Playlist (With Timestamps)

The Shape of a 125 BPM Power Hour

Dolly Parton passed away last week, and a lot of instructors want to do theme classes about her. I made a new playlist because dedicating a ride to her music is a great way to honor her. Here are the tracks and the beat drops, and you guys should make what you want with this.

When I sat down to program this Dolly Parton cycling class, I knew I wanted to lean heavy into power. Dolly’s classics and the country-pop anthems she inspired have this driving, relentless rhythm that forces you to work.

Look, if I'm being blunt, instructors often waste mid-tempo tracks on flat roads. A 125 BPM track is actually a massive tool for power. The tracks I pulled for this sit right at 124 BPM, which gives you the perfect cadence to load up the wheel and push.

Here is how I structure a power block:

• Heavy resistance is mandatory. At 124 BPM, you cannot just spin. You have to add enough gear to give your legs something to fight against.
• Keep the intervals short. Power is about max effort. I push them for 30 to 45 seconds, then pull them back to recover.
• Stay out of the saddle. Standing runs and max sprints out of the saddle spike the heart rate exactly where we want it.

My Dolly Parton 45-Minute Ride Plan at 125 BPM

I built this 45-minute template using a mix of country-pop crossover hits and high-energy remixes that match that Dolly energy. I used On the Beat to find the beat drops and map the exact intervals.

Coaching Power: Cues and Focus

When you teach power, you have to be a push coach. I do not do a lot of chit-chat during the work blocks. The riders need clear, direct instructions so they know exactly what to do.

• Cue the gear before the beat drops. "Add a full turn right now." Give them the resistance before you ask for the speed, so they are locked in when the chorus hits.
• Celebrate the effort. I am guilty of getting so into the workout that I forget to smile. Remind them that just showing up and pushing through a heavy sprint is a win.

FAQ

How much resistance should riders use for a 124 BPM power drill?

They need enough gear that they feel a distinct push-and-pull in the pedal stroke. If they are bouncing in the saddle, they need more resistance.

Can I use choreography in a power-focused class?

Yes, but keep it simple. I use tap backs and out-of-saddle jumps to break up the sprints, avoiding complicated upper-body combos that distract from the heavy leg work.

Try loading up the resistance on that Gretchen Wilson track and watch the energy in the room shift. You already have the plan, so get on the bike and make them work for it.