Cedar Point is working on Gatekeeper's restraints

^^Hold onto Maverick's straps at neck-level like a swing, and learn how to brace yourself on all the snappy turns. Your head/neck will never hit the straps if you figure out how to quickly brace for the forces. I know it shouldn't be this way, but it's not an issue once you figure out the style.

Bakeman31092 said:

Considering their safety record, I would say that they do.

Oi. Obviously we know they're the best and safest coaster makers. I thought it was obvious that I was referring to comfort in said restraints.

Fair enough, but your statement seemed to be questioning B&M's competence in an area where their record is unimpeachable, both with regard to safety and comfort. I mean really, I've never found their standard OTSRs to be uncomfortable, especially since their designs are so smooth that head banging is mostly a non-issue. Also, their flying coaster restraints are a marked improvement over Vekoma's, and their hyper coaster restraints are just about perfect.

I am 6'2" 14o and have rode it 4 times, at the end of every ride my arms blood flow is cut off. The problem is mainly because my chest can't push the restraints out and then the g force from the ride slams the lap bar down ratcheting the belt onto my collar bone, it wouldn't be as bad if this was just at the end but the problem starts during the first drop.

My friend Paul is 6'2" and he only had problems with his legs on various coasters. His main problem was having to crouch down on Mantis, which made for a very uncomfortable ride for him. He also doesn't like that he has very little room for his legs on the wooden coasters. Though he had no problem on Raging Bull, and really loved it.

I have another friend who is 6'4", and I took him to MA, he also had a problem with riding the wooden coasters there. And, banged up, and scraped his knee pretty good on Shivering Timbers. He also ducked a lot on the ride, thinking he was going to take a board to the face.

I am luckily only 5'5" so I don't have a problem riding anything. Well, I do have a problem with B&M stand ups. I always seem to come back to the station with my feet off the floor, and get whipped around a lot, especially on Mantis. I swear there were a few times that I thought I was going to fly out, as my seat seemed to bounce a lot, and being that bicycle seat, it was like getting a nasty wedgie at 60 miles an hour.

Hoping that Mantis will be nice to me this time. But, if the line is over 30 minutes, I'll pass for something else. maybe two rides on M-Force.

I rode this for the first time last thursday. I found the restraints a bit too constrictive once the ride hit the final brake run, making it a bit difficult to breathe. I still give the ride 9/10, but a bit more space would have been nice.

On the flip side, i agree with whoever suggested these for stand up coasters - great idea there

I was talking with Tony at a tweetup and the restraints were brought up. He said that they were working on the problem with the tightening of the restraints. The "fix" is to allow the vests to move freely with you during the ride, basically removing the locking mech. on the vest. This sounds great! Mantis and Raptor anyone?!

He said some of them are already done! I haven't sat in one of those seats yet.

Oh that would be awesome. Even if it still has strong tension, just allowing it to move at all will make a big difference. And hopefully Banshee will be the same way.

Hopefully with the adjustments that Cedar Point has made on the Gatekeeper restraints, people will like Gatekeeper like they did on Media day. It bugs me that people don't like Gatekeeper because Cedar Point spent almost $30 million dollars for Gatekeeper and the new Entrance area. I still like Gatekeeper!

I'd think that given how highly the ride is ranked as well as how long the line has been known to get, plenty of people like GateKeeper.

Count me in the "like" camp. That being said, those restraints definitely affect the coaster's re-rideability negatively. I'd rather take a second or third spin on any other of the big steelies at the park, excepting Mankiller.

Ensign Smith said:

excepting Mankiller.

What do you mean by Mankiller?

Mantis, which arguably has the best layout of any of the park's B&Ms. ;)

I guess I should have added this to my last Cedar Point trip report, but, I did feel the restraint was overly tight on my two rides on Gate keeper. You would think that the tightness would be most noticeable in the first inversion, but it really doesn't seem to grab on tight until the end of the ride.

I was riding with a lady sitting next to me, and when the ride ended, she said. I didn't know a mammogram was included in my flight. Thank you Cedar Point. It does come down on your shoulders and chest pretty hard. My ride in the back seat, was where I noticed it most. The front wasn't bad at all.

Though I have also been on Max Air, and that Lap bar really sucks down on you, the same thing on Power Dive at Great America, and other looping ship rides. Which I don't understand, because there are plenty of carnival rides similar to the looping starships, that the shoulder harness works just fine. Why, lock people in tighter than fort knox?

From what Tony Clark just Tweeted, it sounds like the ride's vests may have been redone this week...

"@TonyClarkCP: BTW, for those who asked, your ride on #GateKeeper should be even better now. #vestapalooza"

This is good news! While Everyone it seems on Pointbuzz are saying how rough Gatekeeper is, the only flaw that I found was the harnesses being too tight, but I never thought of Gatekeeper as rough. Bumpy in some spots, Yes, Rough No!

Just hope it doesnt mean less riders fit, CP doesnt have the best record in modifying restraints...

I rode it several times today. It didn't seem like it tightened too much, but then, even with the old style, my shoulders stopped the vest before it could ever stop my breathing.

Gatekeeper is all floppy now!

I still noticed one vest out of 7 that was very tight. For the other 6 your are right about it being floppy.