What's the new 'epic'? [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

Zen

08-05-2008, 06:11 PM

I recently sent a message to a cycling company telling them I found their use of the word 'epic' as it relates to rides to be pretentious and overused.

I had completely forgotten about it, didn't really expect an answer. I was sort of just poking a stick at them, you know? Like giving your little sister a wet willy.

Imagine my surprise :eek: to find a response in my mailbox. It made me think and consider the use of the word from various angles. When I finally formulate my answer I'm sure it will be well reasoned and insightful :D.

What it comes down to is this- the writer challenged me to come up with a suitable substitute for 'epic'.
I don't think there is one.
To me, 'epic' is subjective.

Is there another word?

SadieKate

08-05-2008, 06:12 PM

I was sort of just poking a stick at them, you know?Noooo. You? Really? :D

kelownagirl

08-05-2008, 06:14 PM

How about 'awesome'? :D:D:D:D

OakLeaf

08-05-2008, 06:15 PM

I don't think anyone who hasn't spent a semester translating Beowulf, the Iliad, the Odyssey or the Aeneid should be permitted to use the word "epic" at all.

Just MHO. :cool:

elk

08-05-2008, 08:58 PM

(I nominate Zen to be one of the founding editors of the new magazine for women bikers....) as for synonyms for epic...how about Long or Difficult?

salsabike

08-05-2008, 11:37 PM

Hey, I think we saw this and had exactly the same reaction! Was it a catalog, maybe? Or some kind of marketing publication, anyway, I think. They described several rides all as being "epic" and we kind of rolled our eyes at each other and said, "Boy, that's kind of grandiose, isn't it?"---I guess epic to me implies extraordinary magnitude. I can't remember the specifics anymore about the rides, but they weren't THAT dramatic.

Zen

08-06-2008, 03:20 AM

Salsa, you probably did see the same thing.
It was Rapha (http://www.rapha.cc/index.php?page=87) and their site says "we welcome your ideas and feedback".
So...I fed them :D

I think the whole thing is testosterone-related.

Kalidurga

08-06-2008, 03:51 AM

Didn't the use of "epic" originate with mtb'ers? To me, it's like the slang that skateboarders and surfers use, totally serious yet tongue-in-cheek at the same time.

bmccasland

08-06-2008, 04:58 AM

It was epic, like, you know, totally awesome, dude :D:rolleyes::D

Thorn

08-06-2008, 05:07 AM

The English language is rich with adjectives, but we seem to get stuck in ruts using the hip and trendy adjectives du jour. No different, I suppose, than people who use the f-bomb. Instead of one-size-fits-all it is one-word-describes all. Until the next great word comes along.

As an aside, we did a bike tour with one of these "wine and dine" companies. The brochure promised 20-60 miles/day so we signed up expecting to do the long option every day. Oh, those were the "epic routes"--were we sure we wanted to do them? Uh....one of the "epic routes" was 40 miles with a 1% gradient down a long, straight road. Besides the fact that few did the route, what made made it "epic"? It was just a nice ride. No beasts were slain. No battles won.

OakLeaf

08-06-2008, 05:18 AM

Besides the fact that few did the route, what made made it "epic"?

We're still waiting for your ride report in Anglo-Saxon alliterative verse. :cool:

sundial

08-06-2008, 05:24 AM

My mtb is an Epic. I use the word epic and read an article about the epic mtb Great Divide Race. Perhaps it's a popular term in the mtb culture.

Andrea

08-06-2008, 06:19 AM

I use "epic" to describe the rare ride or race that involves some sort of major drama and/or difficulty that is conquered during the course of the ride/race.

It's still subjective, though. I don't consider my usual 75 mile Sunday ride to be anywhere close to my idea of "epic," though someone else might based on distance and the hammerfest pace we ride at certain points :D

Aggie_Ama

08-06-2008, 06:52 AM

I consider a ride that challenges my mind, body and determination epic. The seven hours of hills, mountains, flats and heat of the Enchanted Circle last week was EPIC.

My century last summer in Houston where the average speed was 19 mph and the ride is flat as a pancake, not at all epic. A 60-80 mile roll through the hills near my house, not epic. So, yes it is subjective but most often I would just say challenging. :)

Chile Pepper

08-06-2008, 07:01 AM

Epic: heroic or grand in scale or character. I don't consider even my hardest, worst ever, finished-with-a-migraine ride heroic or grand in either scale or character.

So what was it? Challenging. Spectacular. (Well, actually not spectacular, which technically should be reserved for the dramatically beautiful or strikingly obvious.) Painful (not what they're looking for, but accurate). Masochistic? Wow, this is turning out to be harder than expected--or maybe I just need more coffee.

uforgot

08-06-2008, 07:04 AM

And we don't have George (Carlin) to take on this bit of language any more.:(

katluvr

08-06-2008, 07:20 AM

As I read this I realize I have not had a ride, run, vacation, or anythign that I would describe as "epic". So am I missing out on life or something. I have great rides, fun rides, rides and vacations I still rmember and make me smile or get warm fuzzies inside, bad rides, I think I am going to puke rides/runs, etc. But I have never used the word "epic". So yes, the question is am I missing something or is something epic that thing that you only experience once in you life...and when you expeirence it...you know it...it is EPIC!

Fun musings while at work!:rolleyes:

Irulan

08-06-2008, 07:24 AM

"Epic" had been used by skiers for to describe powder days for years...

As for an "epic" mountain bike ride.... its' a standard description for a long mileage singletrack ride that involves at least two of the following: long mileage, bonking, at least one mechanical, running out of water,Running out of food, injury, unexpected weather change, extensive hike a bike,getting lost...

Unabriged Dictionary:

1. noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style: Homer's Iliad is an epic poem.
2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country.
3. heroic; majestic; impressively great: the epic events of the war.
4. of unusually great size or extent: a crime wave of epic proportions.
–noun
5. an epic poem.
6. epic poetry.
7. any composition resembling an epic.
8. something worthy to form the subject of an epic: The defense of the Alamo is an American epic.

Urban Dictionary:

. Epic

(adjective) Awesome, kickass, or otherwise positive. Can be used to refer to anything but is usually referring to a particular event or action. The most common usages are "epic win" or "epic failure," and some prefer to type it in all caps. Occasionally people use the phrase "Epic ___" as a stand-alone sentence or phrase, always following a story about something considered Epic.

NbyNW

08-06-2008, 07:29 AM

. . . a standard description for a long mileage singletrack ride that involves at least two of the following: long mileage, bonking, at least one mechanical, running out of water,Running out of food, injury, unexpected weather change, extensive hike a bike,getting lost...

Sounds like a synonym for poor planning and lack of preparedness.

roadie gal

08-06-2008, 07:42 AM

Sounds like a synonym for poor planning and lack of preparedness.

LOL. That was my thought, too.

7rider

08-06-2008, 07:47 AM

Maybe we should see how TE Admin defines "epic" - as it's used in the sub-header for the "Adventure Stories" forum.

For Zen...Using Irulan's Urban Dictionary as a guide, I'd recommend you request that they use "kicka$$" in all places described as "epic" and see where that takes you! ;)

And Katluvr...epic is what you make it. One person's "epic" is another person's walk in the park.

Irulan

08-06-2008, 08:36 AM

Sounds like a synonym for poor planning and lack of preparedness.

What, you've never been on a ride where things went horribly wrong?

kelownagirl

08-06-2008, 08:38 AM

gnat23

08-06-2008, 10:26 AM

Tell Rapha that charging $400 for a windbreaker is pretty "epic". :P

-- gnat!

SadieKate

08-06-2008, 10:28 AM

What, you've never been on a ride where things went horribly wrong?I know! "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men . . . "

echidna

08-06-2008, 10:50 AM

a ride so incredible that you would consider having kids in order to have grandkids to tell them about it, someday. If not, it's "hard", "hot", "wet", "long", "hilly", or...something else.

rocknrollgirl

08-06-2008, 11:10 AM

It is a mt bike thing I guess. Perhaps it is overused, but I would read that in a magazine or catalog and know exactly what they were talking about. As a matter of fact I use it myself in describing rides...

Not exactly epic, but still fun.....

Aggie_Ama

08-06-2008, 11:12 AM

a ride so incredible that you would consider having kids in order to have grandkids to tell them about it, someday. If not, it's "hard", "hot", "wet", "long", "hilly", or...something else.

To expand on my ride I consider epic:

I saw a bear.
I climbed two mountains and I am from the rolling hills.
I descended switchbacks I would normally wet my shorts on.
I got a blistering sunburn.
I cut a tire and had to spend $70 on a new one just to get back to my hotel.
I had no sag, no family to call to bail out of the ride, only my companion (DH) as a safety net.
I cried out of exhaustion, frustration and fear.
It took longer than any ride I have ever done.
I stopped for pictures of amazing scenery.
I pushed myself to the limits and then pushed a little more.

When we finally pulled up to our lodge, DH what I thought. I replied "It was epic." To me that was epic, but maybe it should just be kicka$$. :D

jobob

08-06-2008, 11:16 AM

Memorable. Hopefully in a good way. :cool:

GLC1968

08-06-2008, 11:46 AM

So we need a replacement for the word 'epic' as used to describe a bike ride of incredible moments/challenges/memories/etc? How about awe-inspiring?

side note : I don't think I've ever used the word epic to describe one of my rides. Either I haven't sufficiently challenged myself, or I'm way out of the 'lingo'. :p

sundial

08-06-2008, 11:49 AM

What, you've never been on a ride where things went horribly wrong?

Yeah, especially during a full moon.....

emily_in_nc

08-06-2008, 12:19 PM

I hadn't heard this term used to describe rides when I was a frequent road rider. Now that I have at least one friend who does, lets call them "significant" mountain bike rides (as contrasted with the easy ones I do!), I have heard the term "epic" used, and hearing about a few of the rides he so described, I agree!

So yeah, I think it's more of a mtb lingo thing.

Emily

7rider

08-06-2008, 12:29 PM

side note : I don't think I've ever used the word epic to describe one of my rides.

Me either. That's why any ride reports I do post end up in the cycling related discussion and not adventure stories. I don't think I'd ever get over the bar! :rolleyes:

Zen

08-06-2008, 12:57 PM

I've given this a lot of thought. Too much, in fact.
I had a dream that I was out riding with Diving Biker and we ran into this guy on the road. He looked like Harry Potter,was wearing a morning coat, and had just walked back from getting a new tire at a bike shop in a nearby town.
He was walking because he was such a purist he wouldn't accept a ride.
He was riding and unnamed custom bike with wooden fenders.

I still haven't come up with a word.

When I think of 'epic', I think of the Iliad and the Odyssey or some too-long movie that involves lots of fighting and period costumes.

I considered 'Adventure Ride' but that sounds like an amusement park.
Maybe a word that ends in '-ian' as in "That ride was Fredwinian" :p

No, huh?

For Zen...Using Irulan's Urban Dictionary as a guide, I'd recommend you request that they use "kicka$$" in all places described as "epic" and see where that takes you! ;)

I like kicka$$.

sundial

08-06-2008, 02:39 PM

I had a dream that I was out riding with Diving Biker and we ran into this guy on the road. He looked like Harry Potter,was wearing a morning coat, and had just walked back from getting a new tire at a bike shop....

Are you sure you only had plums?

Zen

08-06-2008, 04:02 PM

Fermented :D

Irulan

08-06-2008, 05:41 PM

divingbiker

08-06-2008, 05:43 PM

I've given this a lot of thought. Too much, in fact.
I had a dream that I was out riding with Diving Biker and we ran into this guy on the road.

I don't know whether to be honored or frightened by this.;)

VeloVT

08-06-2008, 05:59 PM

Bikesnob NYC recently had some fun with the Rapha copy.

Personally, I think Rapha makes some beautiful things... Not only am I perilously tempted by the jerseys even though I don't like wool, I am seduced by the $45 cycling cap, the $15 dollar, 500ml bottles (currently happily using 24 oz bottles with LBS logo, maybe $5.99 each?)... And I am actually taken in by the copy...

But at the same time, Rapha doesn't exactly conjure up "testosterone" for me...

SadieKate

08-06-2008, 06:37 PM

I splurged on Rapha wool socks at one of the Handmade Bike Shows. The most heavenly wool socks I own and that includes Dahlgren alpaca wool socks.

My tootsies are worth it.

NbyNW

08-06-2008, 07:22 PM

What, you've never been on a ride where things went horribly wrong?

Hmm . . . this probably goes back to experience being relative, but -- my definition of "horribly wrong" is an unscheduled trip to the ER. Been to the ER, just not as the footnote to a ride. And I wouldn't call any experience that ends in the ER "epic."

The rest I can pretty much deal with. Maybe I'm a calm person, or maybe there's a reason why I pack too many Luna bars and too much water. I find it very rewarding to be exhausted, rained on, sore, starving, and absolutely shattered because I've worked for it, more so if road blocks popped up that I didn't expect, and I was able to handle them.

. . . . or maybe I'm only having fun when I'm miserable? :o ;)

Brandy

08-10-2008, 04:41 AM

I don't know that it's possible to have an "epic" on a road bike. Anytime you can call someone to come and get you, that is an automatic disqualifier.

I'll disagree with you. I'd say I had an epic day yesterday. Totally solo and self supported in the San Gabriel Mountains. 106 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing!

It was epic for me on several levels and one of those IS that I had so many bailout points...just ride down the mountain and to my car...AND no one to keep me out there and accountable...YET, I kept going and did my most challenging century to date. Epic by anyone else's standards? I don't know. By mine? Definitely.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2748816922_a317c3c942_o.jpg

Here's a map of the mountains so you can get a better idea...

http://www.socalvelo.com/maps/san-gabriel-mountains.jpg

Zen

08-10-2008, 05:11 AM

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

Kalidurga

08-10-2008, 06:17 AM

Yeah, but the feeling inspired by conquering those elevations could be very epic.

Forget the standard dictionary definition of the word for a moment and get into the colloquial connotation that's developed around it. Tag the word "duuuude" onto the end and it and it takes on a totally different feel :D

Zen

08-10-2008, 06:52 AM

Today may be epic :rolleyes:

Brandy

08-10-2008, 09:33 AM

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

Did I say that they do? I believe I said that it was epic on MANY levels. The fact that I climbed more yesterday than I ever had in a day, hence the elevation graph, was just one of those reasons.

I guess if it doesn't fit YOUR definition of epic, I'll just remember to say that I had a "nice little ride" yesterday. :p

salsabike

08-10-2008, 09:53 AM

Now, see, THAT--Brandy's ride--would fit my personal (not the mtb) definition of "epic".

emily_in_nc

08-10-2008, 09:55 AM

Now, see, THAT--Brandy's ride--would fit my personal (not the mtb) definition of "epic".

+1!

That's a LOT of climbing! Congratulations, Brandy -- amazing ride!

jobob

08-10-2008, 09:57 AM

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

Oy. Brandy's ride would certainly qualify as epic to me !

boy in a kilt

08-10-2008, 10:10 AM

The word sees frequent use in climbing circles. Epic usually means a climb where a lot of things went wrong or someone danced where angels fear to tread.

The word means deeds or stories about deeds done on an impressive, or imposing scale with a strong implication of heroism. Alternately, it can also mean deeds extending beyond the usual in size or scope (Merriam-Webster).

I am totally in agreement with Zen. The word is over used. However, it's a word with a lot of punch which means it's like crack for people who write advertising copy. However, if we do come up with something else, they'll just over use that word too.

Irulan

08-10-2008, 10:18 AM

Oy. Brandy's ride would certainly qualify as epic to me !

maybe, but did she puke? have a mechanical? Get lost, run out of food or water? Get injured, have a wreck? Otherwise it's just a bigass long ride. ;)

maillotpois

08-10-2008, 10:23 AM

I don't know that it's possible to have an "epic" on a road bike. Anytime you can call someone to come and get you, that is an automatic disqualifier.

I disagree. most of my road rides - especially the epic ones - are well out of cell range. even so, that's not necessarily why many have been "epic" - or whatever less overused word we're settling on.

and elevation charts can be a great indicator. Good job Brandy!!!

in terms of mental and phycial suffering, each of the following rides have been similar for me: 600k over 30 hours riding through the night, DMD 209 miles w/20,000 climbing in high 90 degree temps and a 50 mile flat ride with my daughter in the tandem. elevation/distance are great starting points for classification of a ride as "epic" - or whatever. but they're not always determinative. that flat 50 miler with a 9 year old was prolly more mentally challenging than any of the others.

I have done the death ride 4 times now and it's rarely fallen into "epic" status for me. (this year all the hail might have pushed it over the line.)

SadieKate

08-10-2008, 07:25 PM

Definitely done road rides where rescue by car was not an option. There were mechanicals. Someone threw up. Ran out of water. Got injured. Had a wreck. What else does it take to qualify?

We never get lost. We are simply on an unplanned adventure. I believe adventure is part of being epic. No?

Irulan

08-10-2008, 08:16 PM

Zen

08-11-2008, 09:40 AM

Someone threw up.

Automatic qualifier!

alpinerabbit

08-11-2008, 10:09 AM

One person's "epic" is another person's walk in the park.
LOL.

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.
depends on how much elevation...

Outrageous. I like "significant" too. Awesometastic. Gigantalicious. Bonkadelic. Oh I know - I vote for: supreme - as in "hellride supreme". Come on, you can play too.

Aggie_Ama

08-11-2008, 10:13 AM

This doesn't have to do with Epic but this weekend on the Olympics the Gymnastic commentator used the word "ginormous" to describe the Chinese men's routines.

Blueberry

08-11-2008, 10:54 AM

maybe, but did she puke? have a mechanical? Get lost, run out of food or water? Get injured, have a wreck? Otherwise it's just a bigass long ride. ;)

Hmmm....so RAAM isn't epic, unless one of the above happens to occur. Interesting....

Brandy's ride is epic in my book (as was my ride last Wednesday - even though it was short - because I bonked so badly I was going 4 mph up a slight incline).

I'll agree to disagree on this one.

CA

Zen

08-11-2008, 11:44 AM

The original question was what word to use to replace 'epic', not what qualifies. I like all of the below.

Outrageous. I like "significant" too. Awesometastic. Gigantalicious. Bonkadelic. Oh I know - I vote for: supreme - as in "hellride supreme". Come on, you can play too.

SadieKate

08-11-2008, 11:44 AM

This doesn't have to do with Epic but this weekend on the Olympics the Gymnastic commentator used the word "ginormous" to describe the Chinese men's routines.And yet my mother gets all miffed when we refer to their RV as "GigandaWanda".

OakLeaf

08-11-2008, 12:39 PM

Teracalifragilistic.

alpinerabbit

08-11-2008, 02:16 PM

Exacool

OakLeaf

08-11-2008, 05:23 PM

"Epic Movie" is on HBO right now. :D

lph

08-12-2008, 01:01 AM

If I use the word "epic" I'm usually trying to make the result of a string of bad decisions sound kind of cool and adventurous. ;)

OakLeaf

08-12-2008, 04:53 AM

If I use the word "epic" I'm usually trying to make the result of a string of bad decisions sound kind of cool and adventurous. ;)

It worked for Odysseus and Beowulf.

lph

08-12-2008, 05:57 AM

hee-hee-hee :D

"hey, dude! Slaughtering that monster was just ... epic, dude! Ex-cellent!"

sundial

08-12-2008, 02:22 PM

Did anyone notice on the cover of the latest Bicycling magazine it talks about 7 epic rides? :)

SadieKate

08-12-2008, 04:15 PM

hee-hee-hee :D

"hey, dude! Slaughtering that monster was just ... epic, dude! Ex-cellent!"I'm never going to read mythology, et al, the same again.

TahoeDirtGirl

08-12-2008, 05:38 PM

oh my, I just had this conversation with someone last week. I have friends that talk about their epic ride from Mt Rose all the way to the Carson Valley. None of the qualifiers (ie puking, mechanical, etc) occurred. That one is more like one long down hill rolly polly ride.

I +1 on kicka$$ because I have never used the term 'epic' for my own, only kicka$$. Funny, the only ppl I have heard use it (in person not on the internet or print media) are guys.

And how injured must you be? My friends happened upon a woman that broke her ankle last year and had to be helicoptered out. The helicopter had to land on two giant boulders and my friends had to sit on the landing thingies so it wouldn't fall over. I guess that would be epic for her but not for them :D