B&M track plus new trains..........what do you guys think, seriously...

I love the Mantis! I also love the Dominator! It would be cool if they could have both kinds of cars on the Mantis track! That way more people could enjoy the layout of the Mantis! I also love the cars on the Diamondback! It would be nice if the mystery yellow track that people are reporting seeing at the B&M plant is coming to Cedarpoint! just a thought!

I have absolutely no problems with the seats on Mantis, plus in my opinion the mantis track layout is just too short to be a floorless.

I would blame most mantis discomfort on ride ops. My bad rides have come from them yanking up on the seats before they lock making me ride on my toes, practically sitting down the whole time.

^agree. The only uncomfortable rides i have had have been when the operators move the seats too much.

Koaster Kleez said:
So my idea, is sorta crazy, but how would you guys feel about replacing Mantis' standup cars, with FLOORLESS cars.

That's crazy. I can't believe no one suggested that before.

^ NO! CP only has 2 B&M's. I know we don't have any GCI's, but we could place one elsewhere.

The ride would actually be painful if it was converted to floorless. The heartline is way different.

Also Sherika's was designed to be changed over to a floorless coaster in the future, so changing that coasters was easier to do.

Our instruction as ride ops is to make sure there is no space between the seat and between the legs and crotch. If we see space, we will adjust the seat till there isn't and space. You will notice that we like to look at your seat from behind, cause this is the best place to look for gaps. If you do not want a ride op to move your seat as much as you like, just do what you are supposed to. Once you enter the seat, move the seat up as far as you can get it. Once you move it into position then worry about where your legs are positioned. We will not allow over bent knees either, if you are bending your knees to much and the seat is locked we will ask you to stand up straight. If there is a gap at the point we will proceed to re-adjust, likely in a more straight position than you wanted to be in. Bending you knees to much will also result in an uncomfortable ride. Think of it this way, the bigger the gap the more room your body as to jump around in that seat. You want to avoid as much jumping around as possible, as to much jumping introduces more jolting forces in the "crotch" area.

I think someone suggests this every year. It's fine as a stand-up. Floorless coasters are fun, but nothing spectacular. It would be a waste of money.

^^ Or you guys could check trains like SFMM does at Riddler's Revenge: "Your seats are locking in 3, 2, 1. Clear!" Much more efficient and just as safe, IMO.

^The second CP starts doing anything safety or operations-wise like Six Flags does it, I'll cease visiting the park.

I have to admit, I did like how SFMM handled RR. Much more efficient.

I had been told since 1996 not to lock my knees on Mantis because it would be uncomfortable, and it was still painful. I relegated Mantis to "once a year only, just to remind me why I never ride it" status, a la Corkscrew.

Then two years ago, on a whim, I thought I'd try it with my knees locked. Just to see what happened. Well wouldn't you know, it was the first time I actually *enjoyed* Mantis. I think it's because the vertical pressure is distributed throughout the entirety of my body standing straight, rather than the bent knees having to take it all.

And yeah, I bend the knees ever so slightly during loading so that the seat isn't directly touching my crotchal area. If you're touching the seat when the G's are pushing down down down, your crotch/bunghole against the 'seat' is going to be taking the brunt of that downward pressure. At least, that's been my experience. Not fun.

I also found it helpful to be in the first row and keep one side of my head pressed against the headrest, to minimize sudden jolts in the turns (which I also do on Raptor).

A little off subject but I have a question. How long have those trim brakes been on the first drop of Mantis? If they've been there awhile, did they just recently become stronger? Last year I rode Mantis and noticed the brakes for the first time. It felt like I almost didn't make it through the loop. Kinda freaky actually, and when I got off, I stood and watched it for awhile and noticed that all the trains were coming close to rolling back in the loop. That was the first time I'd ever noticed it being that extreme.

The trim brakes, I believe, were added in the 1997 season. I heard the reason they added the brakes was for some safety reason. Can anyone confirm this for me?

Well, I'd never noticed it before last year. I don't know if it just depends on the ride or what but I've never been on it when it came that close to rolling back.

BGRooDoG said:
Think of it this way, the bigger the gap the more room your body as to jump around in that seat. You want to avoid as much jumping around as possible, as to much jumping introduces more jolting forces in the "crotch" area.

I don't care what they tell you or what you think, because this is absolutely wrong. The seat on those trains is little more than a placeholder to align your body in the right place so that it can't get out. Having it pressed up against your balls doesn't make it safer or more secure. Your weight should be carried by your legs, not the seat.

The most comfortable way to ride Mantis is still to make sure that your feet are all the way back with your shoulders as far forward as possible with your legs straight. The G's pull just off of vertical from the track, so this keeps your weight over your legs, the things that should really be supporting you (not the damn seat). It's infinitely more comfortable to ride with the shoulder restraint at or nearly touching your shoulders than having the seat up your throat.

I say screw the floorless idea all together. Just hand me a potato sack and I'll go down in that.

I prefer the seats on the old togo standups.

^Those were great. King Cobra will always be my favorite standup. I'd rather have it then Mantis at Cedar Point.