What's the new 'epic'?

[sundial]

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

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

[emily_in_nc]

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

[Irulan]

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

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.

[Brandy]

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.



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

[Zen]

Elevation graphs do not automatically make something epic.

[maillotpois]

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]

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?

[NbyNW]

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?