“Sweating to NPR” workout music series includes “Songs for the Urban Cyclist.”

“You’ll feel the burn no matter what you’re riding,” writes Jess Gitner for NPR, “from a trendy fixed gear to a sleek carbon roadster to a knobby-tired Kmart mountain bike.”

The accelerating tempo of Blackalicious’ “Alphabet Aerobics” makes me tired just hearing it, but the other selections, though heavy on electronica / synth, are adequate for an urban bike ride, not that I would ever plug my ears while riding in traffic.

My favorite ride motivation music: “The Acoustic Motorbike” by Luka Bloom