1) Not really.. Its just all these threads "music for studying", "music for sleeping" (I kid you not!), "music for walking on the street", "music for the metro", "music for exercises", "music while taking a shower" makes me wonder what kind of people sit there thinking what is the best music to [insert banal activity (like say taking a crap!)]...
2) Well you said yourself: "The best music will have a tempo that accelerates to a driving beat and then occasionally lets off to a slower (resting) pace". Seemed like you wanted the music to give direction to your workout... Plus I didn't know you were only going to do cycling, I read 'gym' and was assuming that you would use different cardio machines, most of which have programs that don't have you working out at the same level, a lot have 'wave' patterns (intensity) workout, allowing you to take resting periods during the exercise itself... (those are usually better for the beginners & fat burning) As for my cycling I usually do it outside during the summer
3) My gym plays the crappiest of musics, I'm tired, am having a ****** day at work, heh, but my point was, my gym plays a radio station which has the pop and some energetic music, its annoying as hell and has almost no impact on your exercises performance. If a song does get you pumped up for a reason, it usually loses its effects after a few times, and its not like that little energy boost from a tune can't come from somewhere else.. (usually your will and determination! If you rely on music for that ur doomed!)
If you're going to dance like those cute little girls in their tight suits, sure, an aerobic style music is required.. But, if you're going to be using a stationnary bike, step machine, skiing, lifting weights or whatnot, any music will do as long as you like it...
Whats spinning class btw?! I don't think its what I'm thinking it is...
Oh, and go for Rocky music though, real champs go for it
Even Rocky, the greatest champ ever, listened to that music when working out, if you don't believe me, you can even see it in the movie 'Rocky', like when he runs up the stairs, "I, of the tiger!!", woa so kewl, even u could do that, there wouldn't be a statue of you or people running and cheering you, and the music would only be playing in your headphones, but still.. You could still do it! Probably not as good as Rocky though.. coz he's liek the champ, but it would still be sumthin! Well I guess...