I Can't Stand Ratcheting Lapbars!
p_c_r: Just to clarify I've never said I loved ratcheting lap bars. Like you I happen to prefer buzz bars as well. But its like traffic in LA: you know its gonna happen, you can't change it, so you might as well make the most of the situation or it'll drive you crazy.
Once I learned to stop letting LA traffic get on my nerves and started using the time constructively [listening to a book on tape, brainstorming on my career, etc] I started to become a less-stressed individual. Same for lap bars. I found I spent too much time and effort trying to keep them up that I missed having fun. Once I learned to stop letting them bother me and started concentrating on the ride I really got much more enjoyment out of this hobby of ours.
But yes, if I had my way all PTCs would have buzz bars. They don't, and there's no way I can change that, so instead of constantly complaining about it I've learned to live with them.
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N.U.T.S. - National Union of Thrill Seekers! Be a member and tell everyone you're NUTS! [Brought to you by the maker of LoCoSuMo! NOTE: NUTS is not a real club; void where prohibited; your mileage may vary; where's the beef?]
Let's face it. They aren't going away. They seem to be the most effective method for "holding us down". For a lot of people the lap bars can actually pose as a safety hazard because of thier size.
My daughter actually cried the entire ride today on Timbers because her lapbar rachetted down at the bottom of the first hill and eliminated a lot of her airtime on the ride. Seatbelts is all we need, and for most coasters those aren't even necessary.
I will have to agree. I remember the good old days (20 years ago) when you may have had a seatbelt and of course no lapbars to rachet you to the seat. Ahh....the good old days.
This has happens to me on Ghostrider and Villain at the base of the first hill, but I am enjoying the ride and getting so much airtime (still), I don't even notice it!
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Take a good look at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure because in a few years the Sea World side will look exactly like it does, a zoo.
I was thinking about this when I was at CP the other day! I wish every lapbar were like MF's. Magnum and Gemini really need these because the airtime is so psycho and would be so much enjoyable if it wasn't so low. I like most of the wooden coaster lapbars because they don't come down all the way and being small has its advantages especially on the GRIZZLY! Clicks are bad, we want Intamin bars! How much would it cost to change all the Magnum trains to Intamin trains? That would be the greatest update ever.
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Hypersonic where are you?
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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"If the beats were made of meat then they would have to be me ..." - L.L. Cool J
Gerstlauers for every woodie :)
Chuck, Ducking!
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
Buss bars? Is that a new lapbar they put on buses?
I may sound stupid, but what is a buzz bar?
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Why do they report power outages on TV?
A "bus bar" might also refer to this product... :)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
I can remember one school bus driver I had way back when I was in school. The way she took some corners, I swear we could have used OTSRs!
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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."
Now parents can tell their kids that the bus is just like an amusement ride, trick 'em into going to school easier & such;).
At SRM, I saw several folks "tying off" the lapbars....
Granted, HW is obviously not your "average park", but I thought it was an idea whose time had come....can't imagine trying to do that at a corporate park....it would take some *NUTS*, pardon the expression.....
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N.U.T.S. - National Union of Thrill Seekers! Be a member and tell everyone you're NUTS! [Brought to you by the maker of LoCoSuMo! NOTE: NUTS is not a real club; void where prohibited; your mileage may vary; where's the beef?]
There is an ACE Code of Conduct rule that does not allow members to do such things with the restraints. They need to be aware of those rules. Rule 2. states Members must set an example for other park patrons by following all park policies and rules. This includes regulations regarding line-jumping; the use of seat belts, lap bars, shoulder harnesses, or other safety restraints; seat selection; and taking cameras on rides. When another patron violates a rule, avoid confrontation and report the incident to park personnel.
You can read this rule and other rules at http://www.aceonline.org/conduct.htm
Anyway when I ride these coasters I don't worry about my lap bars at all. If I do it would ruin the enjoyment of the ride for me which is not a good thing.
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Chris Knight
Went to CB 02 but got addicted to The Flying Eagles.
That is the best ride on the planet.
RideMan said:
Buss bars (more often spelled "bus bar") are the long brass bars along the sides of the track in the station that provide power for the electric lap bar releases...A "bus bar" might also refer to this product...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
That looks preatty cool. I would love to ride a bus with this on it. If I buy me a bus it will have these installed on them.
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Chris Knight
Went to CB 02 but got addicted to The Flying Eagles.
That is the best ride on the planet.
I can see the reasoning of tying off bars to keep them from stapling you. I infact had the bar come back about 3 clicks into me on one ride on Legends double up. Im talking PAIN HERE!
I do not agree however about tying at a one click setting. IMHO you should have the bar at least over your midsection as the bar will do what it was designed to do and stop you from comming out. Also seat belts should be worn. I've seen people first thing on the lifthill take them off and even seen people posting that thats what they do. IMHO a seatbelt has never interfeared with any rides I have taken, Provided the belts are long enough in the first place to ride. I still get full extention airtim with belts that I would without em and thats with the belt tight.
People have been ejected from coasters and there are still some coasters out there that have the capability of doing it. All I can say is if you tye a bar off, Get ejected and the train comes back without ya, The PROOF is sitting right where you used to be.
I would rather see some kind of soft U bar or T bar than ratchets anyday but hey, What you see is what you get and I personally don't worry about it while I am ridding unless of course it comes into you so hard it hurts. :(
Chuck, who dose like a bar off my body a bit durring a ride but giving yourself 6 inches or a foot is actually very dangerous on a forcefull coaster. As I said, tying to keep it from hurting you is one thing, Tying to get as much airtime as possible may get what your asking for, Ejected. :( .
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
Sawblade5 said:
There is an ACE Code of Conduct rule that does not allow members to do such things with the restraints. They need to be aware of those rules. Rule 2. states Members must set an example for other park patrons by following all park policies and rules. This includes regulations regarding line-jumping; the use of seat belts, lap bars, shoulder harnesses, or other safety restraints; seat selection; and taking cameras on rides. When another patron violates a rule, avoid confrontation and report the incident to park personnel.
I wonder if that rule about following all safety systems was added after a club member was ejected from a coaster???? Picture taking at SRM was allowed durring ERT so there should be no complaints there as long as people didn't carelessly do so.
You can read this rule and other rules at http://www.aceonline.org/conduct.htm
Anyway when I ride these coasters I don't worry about my lap bars at all. If I do it would ruin the enjoyment of the ride for me which is not a good thing.
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Chris Knight
Went to CB 02 but got addicted to The Flying Eagles.
That is the best ride on the planet.
Like you said Chris, Why worry about it till it hurts ya? 90+% of the time I have no problems but occationally the bar comes into you hard and is painful. However just because one coaster dose it dose not mean the next one will so why worry about it before hand? I agree with Moosh and you on this one. I go out and try to enjoy the coaster as is the first time. If it's not enjoyable then it wasn't my fault for not being willing to like it in the first place.
Chuck
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
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