Thoughts About Outlaw Run
^Are you talking about Skyrush?
Blasterboy, I doubt anyone would say Skyrush doesn't have epic air...if they can stop howling in pain long enough to say ANYTHING, that is.
"Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster" - Dave Matthews Band
blasterboy6500 said:
^Are you talking about Skyrush?
I haven't been on Skyrush. I'm talking about Millennium Force, I-305, Maverick (ouch), Kingda Ka... I admit, I've warmed up to Millenium Force, it is a really fun ride, but I have no clue how so many people rate it #1. And vice-versa; so many people have no clue how I rate Mind Bender #1, so it all works out.
(And I think Maverick would be *outstanding* with just lap bars, but I know better than to talk about restraints too much.)
Whoa, I totally forgot about Mind Bender. It is my number five. It's pretty smooth and those loops...those cursed loops, I don't even have words for. I think it is the only coaster that scares me on my list of 179 coasters.
GayCoasterGuy, I think with Millennium Force, it is the combo of the view, the sheer size and speed of the drop, and the smoothness and relentless pacing. For the average park attendant, Millie is quite impressive. I personally love it, and for awhile, it was my number two behind only El Toro. I think it has slipped down quite a few notches simply because it has been years since my two CP trips and I forget how awesome it is...but while us seasoned riders may have experienced better, Millie is nothing to sneeze at.
"Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster" - Dave Matthews Band
^^^ If they were to use I-305's soft restraints on Maverick it would jump into my top 3...
But then again, what do I know?
Maverick was another one that while I loved it while I was there, I can't remember much about it now and don't miss it. I wish I could get out to Cedar Point again and be reminded of another example of what makes CP so great.
I DO remember Maverick was smaller than Fahrenheit at Hershey but packed waaaay more of a punch, and I wondered how two similar Intamins could be so different (Fahrenheit is fun but doesn't really do much for me).
"Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster" - Dave Matthews Band
I do wish Maverick could get those soft restraints too, but honestly the ones currently on there are much, much better than the original ones. I don't know when the switch happened (I only noticed it in 2012), but I no longer need to ride with my hands holding the top of the restraint to protect my ears. For the first time I was able to ride Maverick without holding on -- and what a difference! I had my best Maverick rides ever last year, to the point that I find it more exciting than Millennium (I know that's not saying much for some of you ;) but up until then it had been my favorite steel).
There's still the issue of getting stapled on the first drop, but that can be helped by pulling the handle bars during the descent. After that, just let go and let Maverick. I much prefer coasters that don't require 'work' or a 'technique' to enjoy.
Trading Intamin soft straps for the hard ones is similar to trading out old Arrow trains for the new Vekoma retracting vest trains. You no longer get head banging, but you get to be held back and down and shaken to bits (which will get more and more intense as the coaster ages.) People like them because being shaken and held down seems better than getting hit about the shoulders and head... for now.
Lap bars FTW (I've never used ftw, and probably never will again.)
^ I should disclose that I've never actually ridden I-305 with the soft restraints; I rode it at the worst possible time, with the original restraints and the long trim on the first drop. So you bring up a good point, that being strapped *back* into the seat could present other problems.
B&M, on the other hand, has it made. I can totally picture them just sitting back in a recliner and looking at Skyrush, thinking "noobs."
birdhombre said:
So you bring up a good point, that being strapped *back* into the seat could present other problems.
Also, I'm a lift hill enthusiast. I love to look around and get a good view. But on I-305, I couldn't really look around because I was being held back against the head rest. Minor point, but still... It was the most astounding "no redeeming qualities" ride I've been on. (But that's just my opinion, clearly the ride has it's rabid fans.)
Ah, see that's where I could care less, being that I am absurdly afraid of heights and prefer NOT to look around too much (got stuck on Toro's lift hill and some guy was CRYING, and I turned and said, "dude, you are damaging my calm"). Ferris wheels and most sky rides are an absolute no go, so if I'm strapped down and pinned to the seat, I'm probably chillin much more than if I have an expansive view.
Heck, when I finally get to ride I305, it will probably take me all day to get up the nerve, and it is the same thing basically as Millie (Millie took half of my three day trip to CP to get up the nerve).
Yes, I am a weird enthusiast.
"Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster" - Dave Matthews Band
Crazy... I'm a CP local and never knew they changed restraints until just now, looking at Birdhombre's pics. I simply thought I had overcome the roughness issues by refusing to ride anywhere but the first car.
As an SFoT homer, count me among the "it has silly good air" crowd. Best air in the park, even after NTG's installation, is the short drop on Shockwave after the turnaround. Of course, the back seat is where it's at on that ride. That said, the aggressive positive g's on the loops make me only able to ride it once or twice a season.
Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."
birdhombre said:
^ I should disclose that I've never actually ridden I-305 with the soft restraints; I rode it at the worst possible time, with the original restraints and the long trim on the first drop.
Me too.
GayCoasterGuy said:
It was the most astounding "no redeeming qualities" ride I've been on.
Me too.
I don't know if that really was the worst possible time to ride it. Yeah, I got a trimless first drop, but with the original restraints - not really "A Good Thing." Every quick twist in the track produced another jarring moment...
Not to sound like an enthusiast who whines about Intamin's restraints, but... the restraints really did ruin both I-305 and Bizarro at SFNE for me. I do believe Suparro™ might have actually been enjoyable with the original, MillenniumForce-style lapbars.
If that's so Andy, I've got to get a couple rides on Shockwave. I live around 30 miles from the park, and I've only ridden it twice or thrice. :P
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