Only on a rare occasions in my riding career, has the label "Epic Ride" been affixed to a cycling event. For a ride to be canonized to the status of "Epic" it must surpass a threshold that measures a number of qualities. There must be some type of holy mission or purpose that is clearly stated as the cause for such a journey. It must involve the traversing of either a tremendous distance, severely inhospitable terrain, or both. Then there can be road blocks, either literal or metaphorical, that, once overcome, make it all the more incredible that the end result was still achieved. Only with all of these elements in place can the event truly be classified "Epic."

While getting acquainted over a barbecue, and discussing the next day's ride, the players that would be involved repeatedly used the word "Epic" to describe it. I mused quietly, wondering if the West Coast definition of an "Epic Ride" was the same as the one I had come to embrace. The term had be passed around very lightly over roasted tri-tip and Salon's zesty green curry... Soon I would know... Soon I would see just how "Epic" the ride to Marshall Wall would be...