What's the new 'epic'?

[Thorn]

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]

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.

[sundial]

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]

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

[Aggie_Ama]

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]

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]

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

[katluvr]

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!

[kelownagirl]

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!

I felt my like century ride around the lake last summer was 'epic'. I was absolutely wiped from all the climbing but felt like going for a spin as soon as I got home cos it had been such a great day.

[Irulan]

"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]

. . . 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]

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

LOL. That was my thought, too.

[Irulan]

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

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

[gnat23]

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

-- gnat!