Status: ICI position statement
Audience: indoor cycling instructors, ICI members, studios, operators, employers, training providers, and riders
Purpose: To set out ICI’s position on the role of music in indoor cycling sessions, including rider engagement, cadence, atmosphere, safety, and professional practice
Audience: indoor cycling instructors, ICI members, studios, operators, employers, training providers, and riders
Purpose: To set out ICI’s position on the role of music in indoor cycling sessions, including rider engagement, cadence, atmosphere, safety, and professional practice
Executive Summary for Employers and Gym Managers
The Indoor Cycling Institute’s position is that music can be a valuable part of indoor cycling when it supports safe, purposeful, and well-coached instruction.
Music can help create atmosphere, support cadence, improve rider enjoyment, increase engagement, and contribute to member retention. ICI recommends the use of appropriately licensed, high-quality music where possible, including commercial music where the studio has the correct licences and arrangements in place.
However, music should support the session, not control it. Music tempo, atmosphere, choreography, or entertainment value should never override safe cadence, suitable resistance, rider control, warm-up, recovery, or clear intensity guidance.
Royalty-free music may be useful in some settings, but studios should recognise that generic or low-quality music can affect rider enjoyment and the perceived quality of the class.
Music can help create atmosphere, support cadence, improve rider enjoyment, increase engagement, and contribute to member retention. ICI recommends the use of appropriately licensed, high-quality music where possible, including commercial music where the studio has the correct licences and arrangements in place.
However, music should support the session, not control it. Music tempo, atmosphere, choreography, or entertainment value should never override safe cadence, suitable resistance, rider control, warm-up, recovery, or clear intensity guidance.
Royalty-free music may be useful in some settings, but studios should recognise that generic or low-quality music can affect rider enjoyment and the perceived quality of the class.
ICI’s position
The Indoor Cycling Institute’s position is that music is an important teaching and engagement tool in indoor cycling, but it should be used with professional judgement.
Indoor cycling is not simply exercise to music, but music often plays a major role in how riders experience the class. It can support rhythm, energy, pacing, atmosphere, emotional engagement, and enjoyment.
A good instructor should understand how music fits the purpose of the session. Music should be selected and used to support the ride, not to force unsafe cadence, distract from poor coaching, or replace technical instruction.
Indoor cycling is not simply exercise to music, but music often plays a major role in how riders experience the class. It can support rhythm, energy, pacing, atmosphere, emotional engagement, and enjoyment.
A good instructor should understand how music fits the purpose of the session. Music should be selected and used to support the ride, not to force unsafe cadence, distract from poor coaching, or replace technical instruction.
Music and rider engagement
Music can have a significant effect on rider enjoyment.
A well-chosen soundtrack can help riders feel engaged, focused, motivated, and willing to return. For many riders, music is part of the appeal of indoor cycling and contributes to the atmosphere of the class.
For studios, this matters commercially as well as educationally. Enjoyable, well-coached classes are more likely to support member satisfaction and retention.
ICI therefore recommends that studios and instructors use appropriately licensed, high-quality music wherever possible.
Where a studio has the correct licences and arrangements in place, appropriately licensed commercial music may support a stronger rider experience than generic or low-quality royalty-free music.
This does not mean every class needs the same musical style, or that popular music automatically makes a class good. Music quality matters, but it does not replace instruction.
A well-chosen soundtrack can help riders feel engaged, focused, motivated, and willing to return. For many riders, music is part of the appeal of indoor cycling and contributes to the atmosphere of the class.
For studios, this matters commercially as well as educationally. Enjoyable, well-coached classes are more likely to support member satisfaction and retention.
ICI therefore recommends that studios and instructors use appropriately licensed, high-quality music wherever possible.
Where a studio has the correct licences and arrangements in place, appropriately licensed commercial music may support a stronger rider experience than generic or low-quality royalty-free music.
This does not mean every class needs the same musical style, or that popular music automatically makes a class good. Music quality matters, but it does not replace instruction.
Royalty-free music
Music used in indoor cycling sessions should be used lawfully and appropriately. Studios, operators, and instructors should ensure that they understand and follow the music licensing requirements that apply to their setting, format, and delivery method.
Live in-person classes, streamed classes, recorded/on-demand sessions, promotional videos, and social media clips may have different music-use requirements.
ICI’s position is not that instructors should use commercial music regardless of licensing arrangements. The position is that, where music is used, it should be legally and professionally managed - licenced music tends to be preferred by riders.
Studios and instructors should seek appropriate licensing guidance where needed.
Live in-person classes, streamed classes, recorded/on-demand sessions, promotional videos, and social media clips may have different music-use requirements.
ICI’s position is not that instructors should use commercial music regardless of licensing arrangements. The position is that, where music is used, it should be legally and professionally managed - licenced music tends to be preferred by riders.
Studios and instructors should seek appropriate licensing guidance where needed.
Music should support the session purpose
Music should be chosen to support the purpose of the session.
A recovery ride, endurance session, climbing class, interval session, beginner ride, rhythm-based class, and performance-focused class may all require different musical choices.
Instructors should consider:
A recovery ride, endurance session, climbing class, interval session, beginner ride, rhythm-based class, and performance-focused class may all require different musical choices.
Instructors should consider:
- tempo;
- energy;
- structure;
- mood;
- lyrical content (clean lyrics, for example);
- changes in intensity;
- where recovery is needed;
- whether the beat supports safe cadence;
- whether the music fits the class description;
- whether the music helps or distracts from instruction.
Music tempo and cadence
Music tempo can help guide cadence, but it should be used carefully.
Instructors may use tempo to support foot speed, rhythm, interval structure, and rider focus. However, the beat of the music must be appropriate for the riding position, resistance, session purpose, and rider control.
ICI recommends the following cadence ranges as best practice for general indoor cycling instruction:
Seated riding: 60–110 RPM
Standing or out-of-saddle riding: 60–85 RPM
If music tempo encourages riders to pedal outside appropriate cadence ranges, the instructor should modify the instruction. This may mean riding every other beat, selecting a different track, changing the section purpose, or using the music for atmosphere rather than direct cadence matching.
Riding on the beat is not a safety principle. Rider control comes first.
Instructors may use tempo to support foot speed, rhythm, interval structure, and rider focus. However, the beat of the music must be appropriate for the riding position, resistance, session purpose, and rider control.
ICI recommends the following cadence ranges as best practice for general indoor cycling instruction:
Seated riding: 60–110 RPM
Standing or out-of-saddle riding: 60–85 RPM
If music tempo encourages riders to pedal outside appropriate cadence ranges, the instructor should modify the instruction. This may mean riding every other beat, selecting a different track, changing the section purpose, or using the music for atmosphere rather than direct cadence matching.
Riding on the beat is not a safety principle. Rider control comes first.
Music should not override resistance or control
Music should not encourage riders to pedal with insufficient resistance, chase speed, bounce in the saddle, or ride out of the saddle without control.
A track may feel exciting, but if it drives riders into unsafe cadence, poor technique, or loss of control, it is not serving the class well.
Instructors should remain willing to adapt. If the music is encouraging poor riding, the instruction should change.
A rider who is on the beat but bouncing, underloaded, unstable, or unable to slow down is not riding effectively.
A track may feel exciting, but if it drives riders into unsafe cadence, poor technique, or loss of control, it is not serving the class well.
Instructors should remain willing to adapt. If the music is encouraging poor riding, the instruction should change.
A rider who is on the beat but bouncing, underloaded, unstable, or unable to slow down is not riding effectively.
Music, choreography, and rhythm-based classes
Music is often central to rhythm-based indoor cycling.
ICI recognises that rhythm-based classes can be popular and engaging. However, choreography and musical timing should not override safe riding principles.
Movements should not compromise:
ICI recognises that rhythm-based classes can be popular and engaging. However, choreography and musical timing should not override safe riding principles.
Movements should not compromise:
- rider control;
- stable contact with the bike;
- safe cadence;
- suitable resistance;
- clear intensity;
- safe braking or stopping;
- the ability to modify or opt out;
- the instructor’s ability to observe and coach.
Music volume and instruction
Music volume should allow important instruction to be heard.
Atmosphere should not come at the expense of safety. Riders need to hear cues about resistance, cadence, intensity, recovery, braking, stopping, and what to do if they feel unsafe or unwell.
If music is so loud that riders cannot hear safety-relevant instruction, the class environment is not supporting good practice.
Instructors and studios should consider the balance between music energy and clear communication.
Atmosphere should not come at the expense of safety. Riders need to hear cues about resistance, cadence, intensity, recovery, braking, stopping, and what to do if they feel unsafe or unwell.
If music is so loud that riders cannot hear safety-relevant instruction, the class environment is not supporting good practice.
Instructors and studios should consider the balance between music energy and clear communication.
Music choice and professionalism
Music choice should be appropriate for the setting and audience.
Instructors and studios should consider whether lyrics, themes, or explicit content are suitable for the class, venue, brand, and rider group.
This does not mean music must be bland or universally liked. It means choices should be made with professional awareness.
Music can express personality and create atmosphere, but the class is still a professional setting.
The same playlists should not be relied on repeatedly. Riders welcome change and variety – repetitive sessions can become stale and uninspiring.
Instructors and studios should consider whether lyrics, themes, or explicit content are suitable for the class, venue, brand, and rider group.
This does not mean music must be bland or universally liked. It means choices should be made with professional awareness.
Music can express personality and create atmosphere, but the class is still a professional setting.
The same playlists should not be relied on repeatedly. Riders welcome change and variety – repetitive sessions can become stale and uninspiring.
Music does not replace coaching
A strong playlist does not make a class well taught.
Good indoor cycling instruction still requires:
Good indoor cycling instruction still requires:
- safe bike set-up guidance;
- warm-up and cool-down;
- clear cadence guidance;
- clear intensity coaching;
- appropriate resistance;
- rider monitoring;
- safe progression;
- professional judgement;
- ability to intervene where needed.
ICI’s expectation
ICI’s position is that indoor cycling instructors should use music thoughtfully, legally, and professionally.
Music should support the session’s purpose, rider enjoyment, cadence, atmosphere, and engagement. It should not dictate unsafe riding, hide weak coaching, or become more important than rider safety.
Studios should also recognise that music quality can influence rider satisfaction and retention. Where possible, and where properly licensed, high-quality commercial music may support a stronger indoor cycling experience than generic or poorly selected royalty-free alternatives.
The best use of music in indoor cycling combines engagement with technical competence.
Music should support the session’s purpose, rider enjoyment, cadence, atmosphere, and engagement. It should not dictate unsafe riding, hide weak coaching, or become more important than rider safety.
Studios should also recognise that music quality can influence rider satisfaction and retention. Where possible, and where properly licensed, high-quality commercial music may support a stronger indoor cycling experience than generic or poorly selected royalty-free alternatives.
The best use of music in indoor cycling combines engagement with technical competence.
Relationship to ICI professional standards
This position statement sits alongside the ICI Professional Standards Framework.
It should be read alongside:
ICI Cadence and Intensity Guidance
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
Purpose-Led Session Design
Indoor Cycling Instructor Scope of Practice
Indoor Cycling: What Riders Should Expect
Together, these documents support ICI’s view that music should enhance indoor cycling instruction without replacing safety, structure, purpose, or professional coaching.
It should be read alongside:
ICI Cadence and Intensity Guidance
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
Purpose-Led Session Design
Indoor Cycling Instructor Scope of Practice
Indoor Cycling: What Riders Should Expect
Together, these documents support ICI’s view that music should enhance indoor cycling instruction without replacing safety, structure, purpose, or professional coaching.
Review note
This position statement will be reviewed and updated as practice, evidence and professional understanding evolve.
Further information:
Further information:
This position statement sits alongside the ICI Professional Standards and related guidance, including the Code of Conduct and other published Position Statements.
