Best way to ride Mantis?

My problem is that I am 260 pounds stuffed into a 180 pound body, with the result that I carry a significant amount of that mass in my thighs. Basically, the seat on Mantis:TCFKAB is so wide that it has to be down around my knees to not smash anything. Because the shoulder bar pivot is connected to the seat, once the seat is as high as I can comfortably put it, the shoulder bar pivot is actually *below* my shoulder, meaning the bar can't come down far enough for the belt to fasten.

If the seat were narrower, I could put the assembly higher and I could ride.

If the seats were further apart, I could put my feet further apart, which would allow me to put the seat higher, and I could ride.

As it is, the dimensions are just damned inconvenient. I could squeeze into it, but it hurts too much to be worthwhile.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I figure if i am gonna ride a roller coaster, I just suck it up and realize that it could be rough. I understand that could be part of the ride. So people don't want Mean Streak becuase its rough, now its Mantis, it will only be a matter of time before Wild Cat gets on here as well. I am pleased to see that people are praising Blue Streak this year.

^

I wasn't looking to start trouble...and I don't hate Mantis and don't want to see it go anywhere...plenty of people do like it judging by the queue line. The second half is just not too fun for me and I'd rather spend time on Millie or one of the others.

And you'll NEVER hear a bad word about Mean Streak from me...I love it, don't find it all that rough and love all the wood around you when riding. I don't mind rough but Mantis' second half is just more than I want to take repeatedly. If I was younger,maybe it wouldn't bother me that much.

There's only one coaster you'll ever hear me badmouth and I'm not saying it on here because that's not why I'm here.

...And oddly enough, I actually LIKE(d) Mantis:TCFKAB. Better than Chang, in fact, because until recently, it was B&M's most interesting, most aggressive ride. It can be a lot of fun, but now it just isn't worth squeezing in.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Interesting topic...and I would've agreed with most of your 'riding suggestions' a couple weeks back, but that has changed a bit, now.

After a terrible ride on Mantis back in June, 2007, I quickly realized that I hated Mantis. The headbanging was just unbearable...for this reason, my friend literally forced me onto it again last week. It was night time, and the station was SWARMED with bugs---so much that you couldn't see from one side of the station to the other. It was bad.

Seeing that the people in the front row of the returning train were completely covered in Muffleheads, we walked on to the very back row...and it was actually good! Besides getting hit in the face with millions of those bugs, the drop was full of airtime, the loop had some cool hangtime, and the headbanging was actually bearable! (Note- I have a really high tolerance for rough/uncomfortable rides; I actually like Corkscrew and Son of Beast)

After that ride on Mantis, I can say that I will definitely ride it again when given the chance...

...but it's still my least favorite B&M.

I have to agree with Mike on this one. :) Watching it on youtube is the closest I will ever get to riding Mantis.

I love Mantis! Apparently I am one of the lucky ones who does not get hurt on it. Maverick is the one I walk away from with bruises. But that is because my arms are always up. They are both in my favorite top 5 coasters at Cedar Point.

I found the best way to ride Mantis is to kind of lean your head forward away from the head rest. I know they want you to keep your head back, but if you do, your definitely going to have a headache. Also is it just me, or does the G-Forces of Mantis pull everyone's leg muscle? It does this to me every-time I ride Mantis.

^ That is the way I ride and it usually works. The thing I do not like about mantis is that it vibrates so much and it hurts you legs afterwards. It is funny how the B&M tracks are so smooth when they have sand in the supports. Diamond Back is smooth but Apollos Chariot is loud and vibrates alot. Talon is very smooth and raptor is loud and the train vibrates alot.