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

Disclaimer: I have not been able to ride Mantis:TCFKAB since they added the safety belts.

If you are having calf pain when you ride Mantis, it is because your legs are not straight. My guess is that you are leaning against the seat back and you have your legs out in front of you. When you do that, your weight pulls down at an angle, and your calf muscles have to deal with it. If you are standing straight, your muscles don't have to do anything because you're directing the force longitudinally through the biggest bones in your body.

Back when I could ride the thing, my trick was to stand with my back *not* touching the seat back. I set the seat as high as I could get it without it mangling my thighs, but unfortunately that is so low that it puts the shoulder bar pivot *below* the top of my shoulders, which prevents the bar from coming down far enough for the safety belt to fasten. My problem is that my thighs are larger than the space allotted. I could probably ride, but only in seat #2 or #3 of Row #1, and only with the seats on both sides of me empty...it's the only way I can get my feet far enough apart to raise the seat high enough to get the shoulder bar to close far enough to fasten the safety belt. And even at that, there are obstructions on the floor that make that difficult.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I remember when they came out with King Cobra. i could not believe that we could ride a coaster standing up! I do love the Mantis and the girls at my work always tease me because we are on Laketran with our students and the bus is full, I always volenteer to stand up because it reminds me of being on the Mantis in the winter months!!!

The trim brake on Mantis' first drop was added to increase the interval time of the ride. You can read about it in this thread:

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Forums/Thread/13242.aspx

I believe that the trim was added around the same time seat belts were in 1999. Obviously the seat belts slowed the loading/dispatch times which led to the trains always stacking. In 2001, they switched to 2 train operation only. Anyone who has ever gotten stopped in Mantis' safety brake is glad that they did. ;)

Last year I rode Mantis in the last seat, I could really notice the trim. We were coming down the hill at about max speed, then the trim got us and pretty much everyone whipped forward until being released. It was very painful both on the neck and legs.

I think Jeff said the best way to ride. I've always done like he said and kept my feet back and shoulders forward and enjoyed the ride.

italianstallion said:
Personally, I think its a great idea. I refuse to ride Mantis because of the seemingly unbearable pain inflicted on your legs. I see the coaster as more of a torture device than a amusement ride.

Its a fun layout otherwise, but there's probably some reason why they don't do it.

Mantis will never be floorless, it's not designed to be floorless. The reason it hurts people's legs is because most people don't stand straight while riding the ride. Working the ride, I've ridden it over 100-200 times. I know that ride from front to back and if you don't stand straight up it gravity is going to push down on you're legs, which in turn make them hurt. People don't understand that Mantis is a stand up roller coaster, you cannot sit or slouch and all for 2:40 seconds. Mantis ridership numbers are not really decreasing. The only bad year was 2007 and there are numerous reasons why. It's one of the most under-dog rides at Cedar Point, because once you learn to ride it correctly it's one of the best.

It still beats your head up now matter how you stand.

Instead of putting you're head back, put it out keeping you're neck stable, works everytime.

Apart from my once-a-season obligatory 'on principle' ride, I'm done with it.

Jeff said:

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 agree that stand-up B&M coasters are more comfortable if your shoulders are very close to the top of the OTSRs. Once I put the OTSR down a little too far and my shoulders were actually a little bit sore after the ride (Chang @ SFKK). On Chang the front row is much more comfortable than any of the others. I have not had a ride in the front row on Mantis, but I imagine it would be much smoother than the rough Mantis rides that I have had in the past.

Putting your feet out in front of you allows you to have the seat lower than it would be if you were standing up. Then after the seats lock, you can stand in a more natural position and enjoy the ride (In the front row, leaning forward, with your shoulders almost touching the inside top of the OTSR ).

CdrPntNoItAll said:
Instead of putting you're head back, put it out keeping you're neck stable, works everytime.

Doing this along with leaning forward makes the ride much more comfortable and it greatly reduces headbanging if properly combined with your shoulders almost touching the OTSRs.

Mantis in the front row is a lot of fun! Mantis in the back row not so much! I know this is off topic, but were is the "ejector seat" on Magnum?

I agree with Pointperson about the front row being the most comfortable. The problem that I have with Mantis is that is pulls my lower leg muscle while going through the course. I like riding it maybe once in the day, but I wouldn't ride it more than that. Now with just the title of this topic being said; If your going to add new track and new trains to an existing ride, you might as well just build a new coaster. It would probably be cheaper. Don't worry Cedar Point, I think Mantis should stay. It would be cool to see a Floorless in it's place though. :)