What's the new 'epic'?

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Originally Posted by Irulan

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

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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 ;)

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Originally Posted by Irulan

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.

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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/...17c3c942_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

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

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

Today may be epic :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Zen

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

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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

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

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Originally Posted by salsabike

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

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+1!

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

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Originally Posted by Zen

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

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

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.

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Originally Posted by jobob

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

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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. ;)

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Originally Posted by Irulan

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.

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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.)

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?

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

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?

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epic= unplanned adventure. that works!!

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Someone threw up.

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Automatic qualifier!

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Originally Posted by 7rider

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

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LOL.

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Originally Posted by Zen

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by Irulan

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. ;)

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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

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

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Originally Posted by alpinerabbit

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.

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

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.

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And yet my mother gets all miffed when we refer to their RV as "GigandaWanda".

Teracalifragilistic.

Exacool

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

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. ;)

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Originally Posted by lph

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. ;)

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It worked for Odysseus and Beowulf.

hee-hee-hee :D

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

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

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Originally Posted by lph

hee-hee-hee :D

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

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I'm never going to read mythology, et al, the same again.

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