2021 PLAYLIST FOR BIKE RIDES ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST

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2021 PLAYLIST FOR BIKE RIDES ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST

The California coast is home to some of the most scenic and desirable bike routes in the world. Though certain sections can be tough due to steep inclines, you don't necessarily need the best electric bike for hills to reach some of America's most staggeringly beautiful heights. Planning a bike trip on a monumental route calls for an equally monumental playlist. Here are a few recent and older releases to help you come up with a playlist that suits your personal tastes:

 

Ty Segall: Melted

For listeners easily entranced by genuine garage rock, Melted is a classic album with deep roots in California. Though much of Segall's best work is scattered across over a decade of album releases, 2010's Melted is perhaps his most consistently enjoyable album to date, and it easily bears multiple consecutive listens.

Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

While it might be a little on-the-nose for some, grabbing a beach cruiser electric bike and riding through the hills and boardwalks of California to the Beach Boys in their glory days is something everyone should experience at least once. When Brian Wilson wrote his most widely beloved album, he made no secret of his fondness for the California coast or the laid-back surfing culture of the '60s.

War on Drugs: Thinking of a Place

Since Philadelphia's highly respected War on Drugs moved to the West Coast, their sound has taken on an expansive quality that somehow seems more comfortable in California. Where the group's influences have been easy to pin down in previous records, Thinking of a Place comes closer to a fully unique experience that is perfectly at home in California coast.

Slow Pulp: Moveys

Though Slow Pulp is a relatively new band, their debut album, Moveys, has quickly gained the attention of indie critics across the country. For listeners interested in shoegaze-rock with relaxed vibes, Slow Pulp is a band to keep an eye on.

Phillip Glass: Hope Street Tunnel Blues

Few modern composers are as widely renowned as Phillip Glass. Glass' work often spans many moods and genres, and Hope Street Tunnel Blues are no exception. Despite the album's relatively urban title, its naked piano keys are surprisingly naturalistic, making much of the lengthy album well suited to riding in the open air.

Baroness: Blue Record

For an energetic ride, few albums are as uplifting or unrelenting as heavy rock quartet Baroness' sophomore Blue Record. For the entirety of its 44-minute run-time Blue Record delivers an energizing stream of rock that is perfect in tempo and tone for powering through a tough ride.

While music is always a personal experience, the albums listed above are each tried-and-tested riding soundtracks. If you have found something you like here, don't hesitate to fall down your own music wormhole in order to come up with the perfect playlist.

When riding any bike route, always wear a helmet and stay alert on the road. If you anticipate having difficulty with extremely long beach routes or steep hills, consider looking for the best electric bikes for surfers that provide you with the option of using an electric motor.