Did CP add brakes to Mantis last year?

Well, I was at CP last August and I saw what appeared to be brakes on the 1st drop of Mantis. Then, a few days ago I was watching an older coaster show on travel channel and I saw no brakes. Does anyone know if Mantis really does have brakes on the first drop?

Mantis needs a paint job too.

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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks

Yeah, I went to CP back in August and they were there. I didn't mind them too much though, because in the first loop you get some good hang time now.

-Raven_Rider

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"Hold on tight, with all your might, and enjoy your flight on the Raven!"

There has been breaks on Mantis's first drop fpr a couple of years. They kind of need them too.

The BRAKES have been on Banshee...er...Mantis since it's second year in operation. I have'nt seen any breaks in the track though.

It is a very intense ride without the brakes on the first drop, most of the GP could'nt "handle it".

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MF Drops-15
SOB Rides-2

I personally think breaks in the track add a lot more thrill although they are certainly unsafe. I guess thats why no coasters have them. Anyway, as for the brakes on Mantis yes it looks like it would kill the coaster but it does give you awesome hang time in the loop. I loved Mantis. Cedar Point's best looper, hands down.

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"I traded my soul for a ride on Millennium Force"
www.starcoasters.com

The brakes do not detract from the ride at all. The only reason they were installed was that the forces on some parts of the ride were a bit too much for the GP. I never rode it without them, so I can't compare, but I see them doing nothing to detract from the ride. Mean Streak, on the other hand....

Yes, the brakes were put on before the second season (1997). I've ridden it both ways, and I think the brakes are a great addition - you get a tremendous amount of hang-time in the loop now that you didn't without the brakes. The intensity of the ride never bothered me either way, so I didn't notice any change with that, but I feel that it is definately more exciting now.

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Behind the scenes of MAGNUM XL 200! Check it out today!

No, Cedar Point did not add brakes to Mantis last year. They added brakes to Mantis for the 1997 season. I have heard that the addition of the brakes had NOTHING to do with "GP complaints" but were added for a more serious reason. But I have no evidence to back that up except that I have never seen the ride operate with the drop trims off since they added them.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

well when ever they added the breaks they do not take away from the ride. i have rode it with and with out the brake on the first drop and it reaks havok on you calves either way. still a fun ride except for the last stop before before the station.

For the last time it's BRAKES not BREAKS!

Breaks would imply that part od the ride has broken of or is not complete. Brakes, on the other hand, slow the ride down a little bit.

CPgenius, certainly you aren't naive enough to actually think that is the last time, are you?

MFfan, your calves wouldn't hurt if you would stand up straight on Mantis. If you put your back against the seatback and lean against it with your feet out in front of you, your calves will hurt when you get off. If you stand up straight, NOT leaning against the seatback, with your legs vertical and your feet directly below you, it won't hurt. I learned that the hard way.

--Dave Althoff, Jr., who can't ride Mantis anymore. :(

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RideMan said:
MFfan, your calves wouldn't hurt if you would stand up straight on Mantis. If you put your back against the seatback and lean against it with your feet out in front of you, your calves will hurt when you get off. If you stand up straight, NOT leaning against the seatback, with your legs vertical and your feet directly below you, it won't hurt. I learned that the hard way.

that is the way the ride opps tell you to stand, but either way the ride is still fun. i don't mind the pain. it only lasts till you get down to the on ride photo booth. but i will have to try that and see what it does for me.


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front car on mf. hope you have the chance to do it.

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The brakes didn't do that much to the ride. When Mantis first came out it went 62 mph, now it travels at 60 mph. It helps lessen the g's thru the loop. I think that it was a great addition.

IMHO, the brakes to tons for the ride. Instead of blowing through the first two inversion with enough force that you really can't tell which way is up, the trains are now slow enough that you actually get some floating(falling) during the loop and dive loop. With an empty train this is wonderful.

However, not being a major fan of stand-up coasters (why wait in line for 1hr plus on your feet to ride a stand-up coaster?) I don't ride Mantis that much. Well, it's that reason in combination with a lot of time spent with Rideman while at CP :)

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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

Ride man why can't you ride Mantis any more? I thought I read that you said something about the Straps somewhere But I don't remember any buckles on Mantis??

Rideman, I know it won't be the last time, but I thought with a little emphasis, we wouldn't see it for a while. :)

Curtis, I just (seconds ago) described the problem in the thread about "Mantis not for tall people." I'm not especially tall (ShiveringTim is at least a head taller than me), right around 5'12" (but too short to pass for 6'0" :) ). What is a problem is that...probably because of all the bicycling I used to do when I was younger...my thighs are a bit oversized. It means I don't look nearly as heavy as I really am, actually, but it also means that effectively my legs are closer together than B&M planned on when they built the Mantis seat.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

The BREAKS on the first drop are needed..