Why is front row so much smoother on woodies?

So I went to SFoT for Fright Fest last night and rode Texas Giant in the front. It was a pretty decent ride with a lot of decent air and only a couple of bumps. Then I rode it in the middle of the train. The ride was horrible. Worse than any other woodie I've been on. Extremely rough to the point that I wanted to get off halfway through.

Why the big difference? I've noticed this on other coasters as well and the difference is definitely more profound at night, too.

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."

Actually The front is always being pushed also has no car directly behind it causing any side to side action.

On three benchers the middle seat is the place to be but on two bench it's almost always better in the front.

Also, Except for the screwed up trailer trains PTC put out, Track maintence has a ton to do with how rideable it is.

Chuck, who actually preferes the second car or backseat of a car on most coasters providing they generally aren't rough to begin with.

The backseat of a car tends to give more airtime, Twister, ST, Pheonix, Avalanche ect.

Chuck

well the front row of the cars tend to be smoother than the back part, it has to do with the back being above the axle or somthing...

I think that's what MrChuck said above.

MrScott

I don't know why, but I've observed this on Mean Streak, too. The front seat is almost fun. Certainly not torturous.

http://cse.umich.edu/

I think the original post meant the actual first car of the train.

If so, I experience the same thing on different wood coasters. I also feel the last car is somewhat smoother ride than any car in the middle.

Most likely that the 1st and last car are being pushed or pulled only whereas a car in the middle is being pushed, pulled, pushed side to side from both ends, squeezed, and stretched ect all at the same time.

As far as the other thing mentioned, if you are riding a train that has 4 sets of wheels per car, choose the seat that is closer to the center of the wheels. Usually if the car has two seats the first seat usually sits more in the center and the second seat sits over the back wheels. If three seats per car the first seat is ok, second would be best and third would be worst.

Think about what you read here then look at the trains, seats and wheels next time at the park and you will get it.

Perhaps that is why I don't see a problem with Mean Streak myself, aside from the fact it was kinda boring. I'd definitly ride it again. I didn't find anything but the trim on the first drop to be anything at all rough.

I almost kinda liked it.

The Villian at GL is awsome in the front, any other seats and it's misery. I really hope they rehab that this off season.

I believe that the front is smoothest due to the fact that it's the guide car for the rest of the train. Leaving the rest of the train as just connected cars free to bang around as they wish.

Seat possition has a ton to do with it.
Think about it, On a two bench train with four wheels on each car. In the front seat you are actually sitting over the middle of the car. In the back your sitting right over the axle.

Also, Most trains front wheels are solidly attached while the back is a articulated axel In the front you might just feel bumps on your side of the car but in the back your gonna get action from both rails.