Is PTC making improvements to their lapbars?

So it looks like the SLC's aren't the only coasters prone to premature restraint releases now.

Well Viper may not have the air of Phoenix or a Shivering Timbers, it does have it's moments and they have gotten better with age especially the double dip down and "speed bumps" after it before the break run.

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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.

I personally have no issues with the current PTC lab bars. Most of the time they don't come down any clicks for me, with the exception of the GhostRider in the dark rides @ the winter Coaster Solace. Since I am so tall I just keep my feet slat on the ground @ a 90 degree angle and it leaves my PTC one click above giving a lot of play for me, even all the way down I still have some play. Might I add GhostRider for the ERT at the Winter Coaster Solace was completely out of control. I was beginning to get PTC lateral g, and airtime bruises (Airtime from some heavy pops of airtime in the front that jammed my legs). I personally wish that The Legend had maybe a T bar set up instead because of the ultra intense lateral G's my left leg was beginning to get raw from either the lap bar or the seat divider. I think a T might be more comfortable.

I've only had it happen once- toward the end of Thunderbolt at SFNE. It was one of the scariest moments I've encountered, but we laughed it off.

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Track Record: 164
Favorite Wood: Phoenix at Knoebels
Favorite Steel: Millennium Force at Cedar Point

I think you're insane if you didn't notice the airtime on SFGAm's Viper. With the exception of maybe the Comet and Georgia Cyclone (I haven't ridden either), Viper is easily the best wooden coaster in the Six Flags chain, and far superior than most wooden coasters I've ridden. Depending on where you sit, the first half can be a little dull, but the second half is *wicked*. Try sitting in 1.3 or the back seat and tell me there's no airtime (especially on the double dip and the last hop).

For what it's worth, I love Phoenix, and while it has more airtime overall (because it has more hills), there's no spot on Phoenix that gives any more air than Viper.

-Nate

Viper at SFGAm? Great ride. Lots of air on that one. That's the one where I was sitting near the back of the train on my first ride and I looked around the upcoming corner, looked at it, and thought absently, "hey, that's a double dip." A moment later, the brain engaged and the thought changed to, "Hey! That's a double dip!". Then we went through the thing and I went airborne.

To get back to my earlier point, though...yes, the ride has gobs of airtime on it. Airtime that reminded me of Cyclops, in fact. But the fact that I didn't go crashing into the lap bar on any of my rides suggests to me that if the lap bar flies open mid-ride, there's no real need to slam it shut again. I didn't say I wouldn't hold on; I merely said I'd leave the bar open! :)

It doesn't hurt that I'm pushing 250#, either...I'm big enough that I'm not going anywhere (and built in such a way that I don't have to worry about the fat-people-ejections that seem to happen out in California...) and strong enough to hang on if absolutely necessary. But the ride profile is such that it isn't absolutely necessary, in my opinion.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.