Track List - HIIT Ride, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, 7:00am

1. Levitating (video) - Dua Lipa featuring DaBaby
2. Good 4 U (video) - Olivia Rodrigo
3. Beautiful Mistakes (video) - Maroon 5 featuring Megan Thee Stallion
4. It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day (The Bodyguard Soundtrack) - The Soul System
5. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
6. Crazy In Love - Beyonce & Jay-Z
7. Someone To Call My Lover - Janet Jackson
8. Chains Of Love - Erasure
9. We Got A Love Thang - CeCe Peniston
10. When I Love You Oughta Know (mashup) - DJ Maya Jakobson featuring Alanis Morissette, David Guetta & Justin Timberlake

11. When Love Takes Over (remix) - David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland
Cool Down:
12. Elephant Love Medley (Moulin Rouge Soundtrack) - Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor
13. Seasons Of Love (Rent Original Broadway Soundtrack) - Cast featuring Stevie Wonder
14. Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney & Wings

Track List - HIIT Ride, Tuesday, May 25, 2021, 9:00am

1. All I Know So Far (video) - Pink
2. Higher Power (video) - Coldplay
3. Girls (Who Run The World) - Beyonce
4. Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
5. Trouble - Jennifer Hudson featuring Iggy Azalea
6. Womans World - Cher
7. Believe - Cher
8. Born This Way - Lady Gaga
9. We Got A Love Thang - CeCe Peniston
10. When Love Takes Over (remix) - David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland
Cool Down:
11. Elephant Love Medley (Moulin Rouge Soundtrack) - Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor
12. Seasons Of Love (Rent Original Broadway Soundtrack) - Cast featuring Stevie Wonder
13. Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney & Wings

You'll notice that I played a couple of Cher songs back to back this morning. Well, it was a way to celebrate her 75th birthday which was last Thursday, May 20th. She is another one of those special artists that have withstood the test of time, defied all odds and stayed popular, successful and relevant over several decades! (Other artists that have achieved similar success are Dolly Parton, Madonna, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Barbra Streisand.) I have certainly played Cher's music in the Ride with Tommy! very often over the years. So, thank you for the music, Cher!

Track List - HIIT Ride, Wednesday, May 19, 2021, 7:00am

1. Higher Love (video) - Kygo & Whitney Houston
2. Hot Stuff (video) - Kygo & Donna Summer
3. Changes - Tupac
3. Sexyback - Justin Timberlake
4. In The End - Linkin Park
5. Somebody To Love - Justin Bieber featuring Usher
6. Levels - Nick Jonas
7. Too Funky - George Michael
8. Whoomp! (There it is!) - Tag Team
9. Take On Me (remix) - A-Ha
10. Wonderful Life - Hurts
Cool Down:
11. Only Us (from Broadway's "Dear Evan Hansen") - Ben Levi Ross & Taylor Trensch
12. You Say - Lauren Daigle

Track List - HIIT Ride, Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 9:00am

1. Hot Stuff (video) - Kygo & Donna Summer
2. Love Is In Control (video) - Donna Summer
3. Old Town Road (remix) - Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
4. ME! - Taylor Swift featuring Brendan Urie
5. Le Freak (remix) - Chic
6. Dive - Debby Holiday
7. Sucker - Jonas Brothers
8. If I Can't Have You - Shawn Mendes
9. Jump (Armin Van Buuren remix) - Van Halen
10. Running Happy (mashup) - Chocomang featuring Pharrell Williams & Airbourne
Cool Down:
11. Life Of The Party - Shawn Mendes
12. Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi
13. Be Alright - Dean Lewis


I started this morning's class off with 2 Donna Summer videos as it was 9 years ago yesterday, May 17th, that we lost Donna Summer to lung cancer. She was a musical icon, the Queen of Disco, whose music I played very often in the Ride with Tommy!

It's at this time of year that I always recount one of my favorite (and gayest!) memories. I attended an event called One Mighty Weekend at the DisneyWorld Resort in Orlando, Florida, in June, 2007. Donna Summer performed at one of the outdoor events on that Saturday night. She sang her hit, "MacArthur Park" with the famous lyric, "someone left my cake out in the rain." And guess what? It was indeed raining! She had her person holding an umbrella over her during her performance. I was surrounded by good friends (including my future husband!) at an amazing event listening to one of my favorite artists ever! In the rain! Right before an incredible fireworks display. It was pretty awesome.

One more Donna Summer memory I have involves my birthday my freshman year in high school. One of my best friends, Julie, gave me the 12" single LP (yes, the LP!) of the duet, "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand. I think I probably still have it. And it is still one of my favorites to this day!

So it's for these reasons that I started class this morning with a couple of Donna Summer videos. It means a lot to me. I enjoy hearing her music, and I especially enjoy playing her music in class! So thank you for the music, Donna Summer!

Track List - The Ride, Thursday, May 13, 2021, 9:00am (Sub for Guy B.)

1. Beautiful Mistake (video) - Maroon 5 featuring Megan Thee Stallion
2. Sugar (video) - Maroon 5
3. Tipsy Fireflies - DJ Scotty Dynamo featuring Owl City & J-Kwon
4. The Cure (DJ Blacklow remix) - Lady Gaga
5. Evacuate The Dancefloor - Cascada
6. Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay
7. Africa - Weezer
8. No Tears Left To Cry (remix) - Ariana Grande
9. Heat Of The Moment (remix) - DJ Manian featuring Asia
10. If You Could Read My Mind - Studio 54
Cool Down:
11. Dive (Drew's Pay It Forward Mix) - Debby Holiday
12. Promises - Calvin Harris featuring Sam Smith

Jamie Hodes to sub the Ride with Tommy! tomorrow morning, Wednesday, May 12th, 7:00am/Tommy to sub the Ride on Thursday, May 13th, 9:00am

Due to circumstances beyond my control (namely, school is going back to full-time, in-person classes Monday thru Thursday starting tomorrow morning and I have to take the kids to school as my husband is out of town and the sitter is unavailable), I will not be able to be there for my regularly scheduled Ride. Thanks to Jamie for agreeing to cover my class! I hope you all have a great Ride with her! She's a lot of fun! (And btw, Jamie is one of the first instructors to ask me to sub her class when I first started teaching spin...oh about 22 years ago...at Meridien Sports Club in Century City...the circle of life...the circle of the Ride!)

I'll be back in the instructor saddle this Thursday morning at 9:00am as I will be subbing for the awesome Guy B. I hope to see you then!

In good health,

Tommy

Track List - HIIT Ride, Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 9:00am

1. Sledgehammer (video) - Peter Gabriel
2. Land Of Confusion (video) - Genesis
3. It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day (The Bodyguard Soundtrack) - The Soul System
4. Save Your Tears (remix) - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande
5. Astronaut In The Ocean - Masked Wolf
6. When Love Takes Over (remix) - David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland
7. Chains Of Love - Erasure
8. We Got A Love Thang - CeCe Peniston
9. When I Love You Oughta Know (mashup) - DJ Maya Jakobson featuring Alanis Morissette, David Guetta & Justin Timberlake
10. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake
11. Beautiful - David Hernandez
Cool Down:
12. This Town - Niall Horan
13. Home - Todrick Hall
14. Home (from "Pose") - MJ Rodriguez & Billy Porter

Track List - HIIT Ride, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 7:00am

1. Booty (video) - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
2. El Anillo (video) - Jennifer Lopez
3. Viva La Vida/Domino Dancing (mashup) - The Pet Shop Boys
4. Let Me Think About It - Ida Corr vs. Fedde Le Grand
5. You Make Me Feel - Sylvester
6. Borderline - Madonna
7. Always On My Mind - The Pet Shop Boys
8. September '99 - Earth, Wind & Fire
9. Whitney Houston Megamix - DJ Jody Den Broeder
10. Pure Imagination (remix) - Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Cool Down:
11. Be The One - Dua Lipa
12. Borderline - Jody Whatley

Track List - HIIT Ride, Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 9:00am

1. #Wheresthelove (video) - The Black Eyed Peas featuring the World
2. Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs (video) - Todrick Hall
3. Proud - Heather Small
4. Banana - Conkarah featuring Shaggy
5. Mamacita - The Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna & J. Rey Soul
6. Savage (remix) - Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonce
7. Made In America - Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean
8. Rain On Me (remix) - Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
9. I Just Wanna Dance (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")(Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013) - Alison Jiear
Cool Down:
10. Six Feet Apart - Alec Benjamin
11. Home (from "Pose") - MJ Rodriguez & Billy Porter

Ride with Tommy! on Tuesday mornings at 9:00am starting tomorrow, May 4th!

May the 4th be with us!

Track List - HIIT Ride, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, 7:00am

1. Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels (video) - Todrick Hall
2. Papi (video) - Jennifer Lopez
3. Papi (video) - Todrick Hall featuring Nicole Scherzinger
4. Hypnotize - Notorious B.I.G.
5. Bye Bye Bye (Timbaland remix) - Nsync
6. When I Love You Oughta Know (mashup) - DJ Maya Jakobson featuring Alanis Morissette, David Guetta & Justin Timberlake
7. Love Will Never Do Without You - Janet Jackson
8. I Can't Make You Love Me (remix cover) - Ester Dean
9. We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
10. Un-Break My Heart (remix) - Toni Braxton
11. I Would Die For You - Prince
Cool Down:
12. I Can't Make You Love Me - Prince
13. I'm Not Supposed To Love You - Bryan White

Track List - HIIT Ride, Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 7:00am

1. Barely Breathing (video) - Dunan Sheik
2. Side to Side (video) - Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj
3. Montero (Call Me By Your Name)(video) - Lil Nas X
4. The Business - Tiesto
5. Ride It (remix) - Regard
6. Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross
7. Ride Wit Me - Nelly featuring City Spud
8. I Dare You - Kelly Clarkson
9. Fashionista - Jimmy James
10. Goosebumps (remix) - Travis Scott
11. Watermelon Sugar (cover of Harry Styles) - Koosen, Strange Fruits, Green Bull
12. Lasting Lover (remix) - Sigala featuring James Arthur
Cool Down:
13. Breathe Me - Sia
14. Home (from the series, "Pose") - MJ Rodriguez & Billy Porter

Track List - HIIT Ride, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 7:00am

1. Can't Stop The Feeling (video) - Justin Timberlake
2. Break Free (video) - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
3. Booty (video) - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
4. Mo Money Mo Problems - The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Mase & Puff Daddy
5. Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) - Felix Jaehn featuring Jasmine Thompson
6. California Love - 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre
7. Believe - Cher
8. Love Train - IDMC Gospel Choir
9. September - Earth, Wind & Fire
10. Believe - Chloe Lattanzi featuring Olivia Newton-John
11. I Just Wanna Dance - Alison Jiear (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")(Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013)
Cool down:
12. Still I Fly (Disney's Planes Soundtrack)(cover) - Macy Kate & Austin Percario
13. Fast Car (cover of Tracy Chapman) - Boyce Avenue
14. Human - Christina Perri
15. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Track List - The Ride, Thursday, April 8, 2021, 9:00am (sub for Guy B.)

1. Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs (video) - Todrick Hall
2. #WHERESTHELOVE - Black Eyed Peas featuring the World
3. Made In America - Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean
4. Proud (remix) - Heather Small
5. Banana - Conkarah featuring Shaggy
6. Mamacita - Black Eyed Peas featuring Ozuna & J Rey Soul
7. Savage (remix) - Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonce
8. Rain On Me (remix) - Lady Gaga featuring Ariana Grande
9. I Just Wanna Dance (remix) - Alison Jiear (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")(Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013)
Cool Down:
10. Six Feet Apart - Alec Bemjamin
11. Home (from the FX television series, "Pose") - MJ Rodriquez, Billy Porter & Our Lady J

Tommy W. to sub the Ride at Crunch - Sunset on Thursday, April 8, 2021, 9:00am!

Track List - HIIT Ride, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 7:00am

1. Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs (video) - Todrick Hall
2. #WHERESTHELOVE - Black Eyed Peas featuring the World
3. Made In America - Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean
4. Proud (remix) - Heather Small
5. Banana - Conkarah featuring Shaggy
6. Mamacita - Black Eyed Peas featuring Ozuna & J Rey Soul
7. Savage (remix) - Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonce
8. Rain On Me (remix) - Lady Gaga featuring Ariana Grande
9. I Just Wanna Dance (remix) - Alison Jiear (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")(Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013)
Cool Down:
10. Six Feet Apart - Alec Bemjamin
11. Home (from the FX television series, "Pose") - MJ Rodriquez, Billy Porter & Our Lady J



This morning's class was incredible! It was so great to be "back in the saddle" at Crunch - Sunset again! Almost half the class said that this was their first spin class since the quarantine began! Others said they were keeping up and riding both indoor and outdoor. That is awesome! Well, thanks to those that attended class this morning. I will be subbing the Ride at Crunch - Sunset tomorrow morning, Thursday, April 8th at 9:00am. I hope to see you there! In good (and better) health, Tommy

The Ride with Tommy! is back! Come Ride with me Wednesday mornings at 7:00am, starting April 7, 2021!

CRUNCH FITNESS
8000 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Every Wednesday 7:00am
Starting April 7, 2021!



I'm back! Yes, the Ride with Tommy! is returning to Crunch - Sunset! Wednesday mornings at 7:00am!

There are limited bikes, socially distanced. There are only 16 bikes in the room! (The room used to have 56 bikes!) Sign up on the Crunch app. Masks must be worn at all times! 6 feet distance is to be maintained at all times: before, during and after class. Bikes must be wiped down after class.

Times are different. We must be willing to remain flexible to get the most out of these crazy times. So let's all work together, keep a positive attitude, keep a negative COVID status, respect each other and build ourselves back better! And healthier! And remember, given all of this, we can still have an intense, form-focused and fun Ride!

In good (and better) health,

Tommy

Celebrating 22 Years as an Indoor Cycling Instructor!

Well, we continue to celebrate events...anniversaries, birthdays, holidays...as they continue to roll around every year. Even though this year is so different. In fact, very little is the same. But we celebrate. We celebrate all that has brought us to where we are today. We celebrate all that we hope and aspire to be in the future. 6 months from now. 1 year from now. 5 years from now. We continue to celebrate. And we continue to hope. And we continue to forge on with commitment, strength, determination. It would be so easy to be discouraged. To even give up. Sometimes, that is completely okay. As long as we know the reason why we are giving up. Is it because life threw us a curveball and we realized that thoughts, plans, hopes, and dreams upon which we had been sitting...which we were holding back...which scared us...could now be fully realized? Upon which we could now more assuredly act? Have the doors to the closet within which we were hiding, afraid to fully embrace our new goals and aspirations, now been fully and robustly swung open? Are we ready to hit it out of the park? Or is it because we encountered one of life's road bumps and instead of just slowing down and reassessing all that is before us, we chose to give up and bounce into a safer place? The jolt of a setback. The jerk of a disappointment. The fear and effort too great to continue. The road closed. The future in today's quarantined, stay-at-home-ordered, mask-wearing, social distancing environment is so very uncertain. We are facing times that are unprecedented. But we can choose to live a more rewarding life. One where you truly love yourself. One where you truly love each other. One where you truly love and respect everyone. I truly hope that each of you are able to happily and healthfully make the right decision for yourselves with clear eyes and an open heart and mind. Choose what makes you happy. Choose to have fun! Choose to do what you have always wanted to do. And it may be the very thing you have been doing. Or it may be something brand new. But swing at that curveball. Buckle up your seatbelt just a little bit tighter. Though it seems that every month so far in 2020 has brought us a new and different "challenge" or setback, choose to embrace it and use it to accomplish even more. Because it is a choice. We're in a new environment. A different situation. Choose to make the most of it for yourself. Choose to do it side by side with your brothers and sisters. Choose to support each other. Choose to love each other. Choose. And celebrate. I know I'm being all lofty and philosophical. Maybe it is because I'm celebrating 22 years of being an indoor cycling instructor. That's right. On August 2, 1998, I taught my very first spin class. And here it is August 2, 2020. 22 years later. I never envisioned being an instructor for this long. But I'm sure glad I have been. I am grateful for the opportunities that being an instructor has afforded me. I am so grateful for all the people I have met. For the people with whom I have worked. And I have worked with a lot of people. I am proud to have been employed by Crunch for all of those 22 years. I am glad that I had the chance to work at many other gyms as well. Equinox. Gold's. Sportivo. Meridien. Over the years I have met and instructed many amazing people. Nicole Kidman. Christina Applegate. Queen Latifah. Lisa Rinna. Del Shores. Maggie. Maureen. Maria. Mary. Rose. Gloria. Jason. Jim. Jonathan. Rich. Many who inspire me to this day. I am so lucky to have learned so much doing something that I love. I have always said, "I'll quit when I'm no longer having fun!" Well, I'm still having fun. The current environment isn't allowing me to teach at this particular moment in time, but we will all be riding together again soon. In the meantime, I'm putting to use a lot of what I have learned. I've learned that cycling...or exercise in general...can get us through so much. It can help us live healthier, happier, longer lives. It can make our bodies stronger. It can help us get through difficult and trying times (see...now!) It is so important to take that time for yourself to make yourself stronger, happier, and healthier! Life has thrown us a curveball. We have hit a road bump. Choose to make the most of life. Choose to take on the challenge. Choose to do it! And celebrate when you do! Together. With love.

Track List - The Ride, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, 7:00am

1. Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs (video) - Todrick Hall
2. #WHERESTHELOVE - Black Eyed Peas featuring the World
3. Made In America - Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean
4. Proud (remix) - Heather Small
5. Banana - Conkarah featuring Shaggy
6. Mamacita - Black Eyed Peas featuring Ozuna & J Rey Soul
7. Savage (remix) - Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonce
8. Rain On Me (remix) - Lady Gaga featuring Ariana Grande
9. I Just Wanna Dance (remix) - Alison Jiear (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")(Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013)
Cool Down:
10. Six Feet Apart - Alec Bemjamin
11. Home (from the FX television series, "Pose") - MJ Rodriquez, Billy Porter & Our Lady J

Wow. It has been a long time since I've posted a tracklist from a class that I've taught at Crunch. That I've taught at all! Almost 4 months! I have to say I was nervous going into it this morning. However, there were only a handful of people in class, so social distancing was not a problem. Everyone wore their mask, so that was not a problem, either. The biggest difference for me was dealing with wearing a mask while trying to teach. It was challenging. I have absolutely no problem with wearing it, but it did create a bit of a challenge. At one point, I got pretty winded during class. Now, I'm not so sure that it was the mask or that I've just really gotten out of shape these past 4 months! Either way, class went pretty smoothly, I'm glad I was there this morning, and I look forward to doing it again next week! I hope to see you there!

In good health (especially in these times!),

tommy

Ride with Tommy! Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, 7:00am, Crunch - Sunset

It's official! I will be teaching tomorrow morning, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, 7:00am at Crunch on Sunset. It's been a minute since I've taught (since Friday the 13th of March! If that wasn't an omen, I don't know what is!) Crunch has been open for a couple of weeks now, and they have been slowly rolling out the group fitness schedule, including the Ride classes. If you are ready to go back to the gym, and many of you may very well not be ready...and that is completely okay! No pressure. But if you are ready to Ride, if you are already back at Crunch or thinking that you are ready to go back now, I hope to see you tomorrow morning.

Crunch is following all health guidelines from local and state governments to ensure the safety of all of us. Signs and information will be posted throughout the club. But here is a brief rundown of those that will affect us in the spin room specifically:

1. Masks and gloves must be worn at all times in the gym, even during vigorous exercise. If you do not have your own gloves, some will be available in the spin room.
2. There are only 44 bikes in the room (we took 11 bikes out). Only every other bike will be used during a class so that we can follow social distancing as much as possible and no one will be riding next to anyone else. Thus, there will only be a maximum of 22 people in a class.
3. Bikes should be wiped down both before and after class.
4. Employees will have their temperature checked before they teach.

More information regarding Crunch's full compliance of health guidelines can be found on the website.

In good health, now more than ever!

tommy