What's the new 'epic'?

[SadieKate]

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

I know! "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men . . . "

[echidna]

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]

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.....

[jobob]

Memorable. Hopefully in a good way.

[GLC1968]

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'.

[7rider]

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!

[Zen]

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"

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$$.

[Aggie_Ama]

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$$.