What is it with the hatred of Arrow Roller coasters?

I think the difference can be summed up as this:

Arrow is/was generally much rougher than the "more modern" steel coasters (Intamin, and especially B&M). As far as loving/hating them, it depends if you like a rougher, almost woodie-like ride. If you can appreciate those rougher rides ("character"/"history") then you'll love them. If not, then you'll hate them.

dannerman, arrow coasters can me as smooth as intamin.

They can be, but generally aren't.

I've found that my rides on Magnum are noticeably rougher than Steel Force. GASM @ SFGAdv is a little smoother this year than in recent years, but still is only about a 3- or 4-ride limit until it gives me a headache. Viper @ SFMM was another I wouldn't attempt more than a couple times as it was fairly rough to me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm *NOT* saying I hate any of these coasters - just that they are noticeably rougher than the Morgans, Intamins, and B&Ms that I have ridden (well, with the exception of GAdv's Medusa and B:TR which I found uncharacteristically rough, especially when compared with other coasters of identical/mirrored layouts)

Even with Horsecollars, Rob, an Arrow can be mega fun! I personally don't have much problems with Arrows, as an Arrow was my first inversion. After then 2nd time, I learned how to 'ride right'.

However, Ride Canyon Blaster & Tennessee Tornado (esp. the latter) if you want a 'good' Arrow. But, then, I liked Shockwave more than just about any coaster at SFGAm (including Batman), and I like Maggie and loved Despy. I'm a Masochocist. Course, I'm also Sadistic, as I like dragging other unsuspecting people on Arrows as well.

TN Tornado is awesome! It totally took me by surprise, considering I took one look at it and said "OK, THIS is going to hurt!"

I was wrong. ;-)

I can't say the same for Canyon Blaster. I did it. I probably won't do it again.

Everyone has their preferences and likes/dislikes. Sometimes we tend to "trash" coasters but I wouldn't lose any sleep over someone saying that my favorite coaster sucks. This is ONLY a hobby!

Personally I don't care for most Arrows because they literally hurt me, especially the OTSR's. I am only 5'4 which means my temples are in direct contact with the OTSR's.

The older Arrows like Vortex, GASM, Viper (SFMM and Darien) Dragon Mountain, etc bang the hell out of me and I can't tolerate them. I will try ANY coaster once. If it hurts me, chances are I won't do it again. Plain and simple. You will never see me on SFMM's Viper and Psucklone, Mean Streak, Son of Beast, most older Arrows, or Dragon Mountain EVER again. Nothing personal, I just prefer pleasure over pain. :-) That is why I am such a GCI, B&M, and Intamin fangirl. :-P

The Vekoma boomers and SLC's usually do the same torture, as well as the remaining TOGO stand-ups. WAY too painful. I have friends (mostly guys) who swear by the old Arrows and Togos which is cool......they can have them! :-) Guys seem to like the rougher wooden coasters. I will never understand why, but to each his own. :-)

Us chicks prefer the smoother woodies.

It's all about taste, just like one's favorite band or food. If we all agreed on the same things life would be pretty boring. :-)

-Tina

*** Edited 10/19/2005 10:44:58 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Yeah, the biggest problem with most Arrows is the restraint. But at least with some, they're engineered and smooth enough so that the restrain doesn't matter. But I hate Arrow Horsecollars. I don't have a problem with OTSRs in general, but those aren't that great.

Now that I'm thinner, I can close them down further, and now that I'm at the peak of my height, and becaus of the freakishly long neck I'm blessed with, my temples miss those restraints now, and I don't usually headbange on Arrows. Just SLCs and an occasional rough spot on a Beemer.

It has been a while since I got headbanging on an Arrow.

Why does it matter so much to you? Do you really feel that inferior just because not everyone loves Arrow coasters? Try being a Pitt and Penguins fan this year!!

Most of the problem with Arrows is in the transitions. You can literally see the lack of computer assistance with the engineering of those turns and twists. They're blocky, they're not geared to the heartline and they toss you around like a rag doll in a car where you have two hard plastic restraints sitting less than an inch from each of your ears/temples. How about when you're riding in a car, I sit there with a hammer and when you make a turn, I bash you in the side of your head? Same thing (altho less dramatic ;))

That being said, Viper SFMM, Viper SFDL, Steel Phantom, Corkscrew CP and Magnum I really enjoy(ed). But, the majority of Arrows are just too rough to be tolerated (yes, X included)

I find that the people who don't like Arrow largely grew up in the more modern coaster era where there were more options for steel like Intamin, B&M, etc.

Before 1994 I had only ridden 2 or 3 different "makes" of steel coasters. Now, there are more options and, of course, B&M designed a ride so smooth that all others paled in comparison.

I think Arrows have always been as rough as they are now but there was nothing smoother and we didn't know any better so there was no complaining.

Just an old man's take on the matter.

Dollywood's Tennessee Tornado is a great ride. I thought it would hurt like hell and be only good for a credit. I wound up riding 6 times from front to back.
Best Arrow of all time, IMO.
I figure it this way: It's in Dolly's park, those curves, hills and valleys better be smooth. :)

Why doesn't anybody like Togo coasters? :(

I like Arrows, no real complaints about any of the ones I've ridden. BBW is a ton of fun and GASM is still a pretty good ride after all these years. Some people just like holding grudges over a single company after one bad experience.

My issue with Arrows comes from GASM at GAdv I have been battered by the horse collars on that bad boy so many times that I now sit in an Arrow looping coaster and say the same thing I do on Vekoma looping coasters. ASSUME THE POSITION and press my head to a side and hold it there all ride long.

Tennessee Tornado and Loch Ness Monster were two Arrow looping coasters I truly enjoyed and didn't have to ride defensively.

But every time I visit GAdv I look at GASM and think what it could have been. I had an awesome lap on it during the first season pass holder event this season(only went on it since it was a walk on) but the next time I went back to the park I figured I'd give it another lap due to the nice ride earlier and got my brain battered and glasses broken. Oh well back to the defensive rides on GASM if I do ride it.

I have no issue with non looping arrows as I love Steel Force and Maggie even though I do get bashed on them with the bars without padding.

I can't believe people are trashing these rides. These rides are legends. Look at viper SFDL in our very own coaster buzz photo library. Before there were any rides like superman or minderaser, you would of had to have rides that broke new barriers and records. Arrows viper was probably a smashing hit when there were no other rides there. The park looks so empty. Whoever trashes magnum the first coaster to ever break the 200 foot mark is either sniffing to much glue, or smelling there own finger after its been up their ***. If it was 1995 or 94 whatever. Not one person in these forum would be cutting up any arrow ride for that matter. So whoever is, take a hike and drift. Drift on over to another topic cause this ones over.

No one is complaining about a rough ride are they.

Anyone ever been drunk?

Anyone ever been Ill?

Anyone work out to keep good health?

Give me a break

A rough ride on a coaster is for pussy's. If you think arrow rides are rough then you must not like woodies.

LOL

dragonoffrost, did you happen to notice which train you were in on GASM for your rides?

I remember going on it in May (with the fresh paint) and it looked as though the restraints for the red train had been replaced. I rode in the red train and it was a nice, relatively-smooth ride. On all my other visits this year I happened to get the blue train (with obviously NOT replaced restraints) and the ride was much less forgiving. I don't know if it was coincidence or not, because I never did get on the red train again this year after that first, early-90's-smooth ride in May

I think you may have hit it on the head right there. I can't remember which train the early season ride was on but I know the other ride was white train!

They still run the white train? Every day I've gone this year I've only seen red & blue.. I just figured it was the "off year" for it.

Definitely was white that day. Got up and looked at my glasses only to find the lens partially popped out and the frames bent. A quick trip to first aid to fix them and back to riding everything but GASM.

*stares at WheelOnSteel for a second*

*SMACK*

Ok, I feel better now ...

I think it's funny. For real. What is a troll in here or in your so called click. Can I be an insider please! Very funny.

I would really like to know how a horse collar restraint can hurt you. Maybe just making you wine a little but how can that horse restraint hurt you when you ride woodies. Seriously though. I can't fugure it out. When answering, please don't side track or switch subjects when answering just answer the question please and thankyou!

LOL

LOL! *** Edited 10/19/2005 4:55:47 PM UTC by WheelOnSteel***

The horsecollar restraints DEFINITELY cause most of the problems on those old Vekomas and Arrows. The problem with them is that they do not pin you down at the waist like the B&M ones do. Since your body is not held in place, you end up shifting around too much and banging your head. I'm sure the old train and track styles don't help either. I don't hate these older rides. I agree that LNM and BBW are 2 of the best Arrows out there. I think had Arrow not gone bankrupt they would be producing more modern rides that ride much better.