Your Definition of a Smooth Coaster

How would you define an extremely smooth coaster, and give an example. To me, I don't think I would praise a coaster for being smooth just because it has no jolts or bumps on the track; there's too many of those coasters now in my opinion. But the sensation of feeling the ground just whooshing past you when as you sit is what would make a coaster stand out as very smooth to me. I got this feeling on Nitro, Apollo's Chariot, Toro, and NTaG.

You answered your own question.

The only smooth coaster I can think of is Raging Bull at Great America. Most every other coaster I have been on, is hardly smooth. Maybe Batman the ride at Great America as well, it's certainly smoother than Raptor at Cedar Point, which has a couple nasty spots, especially the slam into the brake run at the end of the ride.

Smooth to me would be a ride, that is not bumpy, jerky, or slammy. The first year it opened, Shivering Timbers was very smooth, now it's all three of the "nots" so I would not count it as a smooth ride.

I think most of the smooth coasters in my book are at Great America. The Whizzer is pretty smooth, as is the Superman ride. Though the American Eagle is NOT smooth. Not sure about Viper, because I have not been on it in few years. Though it was pretty smooth the last time I rode it.

With wooden coasters, it seems to depend on the weather.

I define a smooth coaster as one that isn't rough.

Duh.

Yea. Rough coasters are like, bumpy, and stuff. Smooth coasters don't have bumps. I think smooth coasters are more comfortable than bumpy ones. ;)

So no one likes to feel the ground whooshing under them like I do?

Well,... I have to admit I do like whooshing.

But then again, who doesn't, right?

^^No, absolutely no one likes that only you. The rest of us aren't all too hot on that "out of control feeling when it feels like you are going to float off the train either."

Sorry, but I couldnt resist. I will go with the Supreme Court definition of pornography for describing a smooth coaster (I cant define it, but I know when I see one/ride it)

I don't. Whooshing sucks.

Right. Have you ever even tried it? I bet not.

I saw a video of whooshing once. Sucks.

Schwarzkopf Wildcat :)

Ground hugging speed is my favorite element of a coaster. Hence the reason I'll defend Millennium Force to the death against the naysayers.

In addition to MF, for smoothness and ground hugging speed, you've got Phantom's revenge, The Morgan family of Hypercoasters with their awesome turnarounds, all 3 S:ROSes, and the BnM hypers. (not much ground hugging speed, but plenty smooth.)

I haven't ridden it, but Cheetah Hunt looks amazing, like it too will fit in this category.

Or Maverick? Total ground-hugging speed coaster...

Speaking of Maverick, I think this topic is actually valid. I tend to associate smoothness with a lack of vibration / jolting from the wheels riding on the track. I think Maverick is a very smooth coaster, but it is forceful.

When people don't ride Maverick defensively, they often interpret the quick directional changes / forces that thrust them into the restraint as roughness. So, they're interpreting "smooth" coasters as ones with gentle, transitional forces, like most modern B&M's.

While a coaster like Diamondback is smooth by both those definitions, there are others that are hard to label by either definition. So yes, there are many different interpretations of "smooth."

I don't always ride smooth roller coasters, but when I do it's Millennium Force.

Jeph said:

I tend to associate smoothness with a lack of vibration / jolting from the wheels riding on the track. I think Maverick is a very smooth coaster, but it is forceful.

I've been here WAY too long.

The same discussion defining the ideas of rough vs aggressive took place almost 10 years ago exactly.

(and I linked to a Moosh post because I remember him saying it the most - and that's the only one I could dig up quickly)

And on the subject of roughness in general - it's relative. (also from almost 10 years ago)

Not that this current discussion isn't valid - it's just that if you do anything long enough, it becomes cyclical.

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Not to siderail this any further, but that might just have explained to me why my interest in most things I really get into wanes at about the same rate. I'm well past my coaster interest peak and if not for the community (quite frankly, I like talking to you guys), I'd probably have faded out more than I have already. Everything seems to reach a point of "been there, done that" and I lose interest.

If it don't annoy me or hurt me, Im fine with. Whatever, Even if it Whoosh's.

On second thought, It's the two smooth coasters that Annoy me most. I feel like You could put me in front of a movie screen, Blow air on me and have the same effect.

Like Gonch Says, Well past my Coastin Prime. If things aren't fun or enjoyable. I find things that are :)

Lord Gonchar said:

Not to siderail this any further, but that might just have explained to me why my interest in most things I really get into wanes at about the same rate... Everything seems to reach a point of "been there, done that" and I lose interest.

One of the more compelling arguments against immortality I've read.

Charles Nungester said:

If it don't annoy me or hurt me, Im fine with. Whatever, Even if it Whoosh's.

TWSS.

On second thought, It's the two smooth coasters that Annoy me most.

Only two?

I have quite a high tolerance on most rides... It just depends on the ride and the type of roughness. Generally I am ok with some poor transitions, but hate vibration roughness.

Scream at SFMM? Terrible. The vibration is sickening. Not sure why Medusa can run so well but this one can't.

The Old Raging Wolf Bobs at GL with the original PTC's and tracking? A GREAT time for me. Did not like the ride nearly as much after the G-Trains and trackwork when it got smooth and boring :) Bouncing all over made for epic night rides, especially during Fright Fest!

Kingda Ka was also a terrible one for me... Vibrations and the "shimmy" with the OTSR's... Bleh.

Really just depends though...