To fully grasp our experience, readers should know that while we’re cycling we mostly don’t talk to each other. One of us is usually ahead of the other and out of earshot, and besides we can’t keep a conversation going at all hours of the day, especially while we huff away for eight hours on our bikes. Most of the time, on those long difficult stretches where there’s not much to hear but the roaring of the wind and passing cars, I’m listening to music. Sometimes on quieter parts, usually at the start of the day when I’m not out of breath, I’m singing some old favorites, but mostly my iPod Classic is on and I’ve got my earbuds lashed in with my headband. Here’s what excites me when it comes on shuffle during parts of our adventure, in no particular order:

1) The Legend of Zelda Overworld music (particular the orchestrated version)
2) Gerudo Valley (also from Legend of Zelda, but deserves mention for being perfect desert music)
3) I Give Him Balance and He Gives Me Speed (from Kino’s Journey, the show that inspired us back in the day)
4) The Legend of Ashitaka (from the OST of Princess Mononoke, a film from the famed director Hayao Miyazaki)
5) Feeling Good (Nina Simone, always my favorite song)
6) Rock Anthem For Saving the World (from the first Halo game, came on during the last stretch to Zamiin Uud and gave me a much needed adrenaline boost)
7) Symphony No. 2 (Sibelius, those later movements can utterly change how you perceive a landscape)
8) I Can’t Make it Anymore (Richie Havens, for when I feel like bitching)
9) Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Monty Python, for when I’m done bitching)
10) The Sunlit Earth, Prohibited Art, or the Prologue (from the OST of Shadow of the Colossus, a truly epic adventure game whose settings seemed inspired by Mongolia)
11) Ain’t Got No (Nina Simone, she keeps me positive when the going is rough)
12) Time in a Bottle (Jim Croce, one of the few songs Sebrand can play on guitar that I know the words to, so a common choice for singing)
13) Twilight (ELO)
14) Greenback Dollar (Kingston Trio, a classic road song)
15) I’m Tired/Where Am I (Savoy Brown, I wish the title matched the lyrics as well as it matched how I feel at the end of some days)
16) Speak Softly Love (Andy Williams, because sometimes you just need cheesy love songs)
17) Anything from Tchaikovsky, particularly the Nutcracker but also the Sixth Symphony can help change the mood
18) The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Paul Dukas)
19) Firebird Suite (Igor Stravinsky)
20) the Mountaineer (Edvard Grieg)
21) Summertime (George Gershwin)
22) Star Wars OST (John Williams)
23) MacArthur Park (Vic Damone)
24) Fire Emblem theme
25) The Elder Scrolls IV: Skyrim OST
26) Lord of the Rings music

Video games have so many good songs for long journeys. But there’s plenty to draw from in other genres as well. Music can really help the longer hours pass, and if shuffle cooperates, it can occasionally set the right track and make a moment that much more memorable.