How about new trains on the Mantis?

If Mantis really is getting repainted why not get floorless trains for it? I think that they would fit on the track and they would be a lot smoother and hopefully quieter. I havent been on mantis in a while because it is too rough and just waiting in line gives me a headache from the noise. I think that CP has really let this one go in the means of just general appearance.

While I'm a proponent for doing this there are some problems with it.

The ride is designed as a stand-up coaster. That is the location of your center of mass is taken into account when calculating the forces on your body. With floorless trains your center of mass will not be in the same spot (although it will be close) so the forces on your body would be different. This may actually require some reprofiling of the ride, or it may not.

There would be way too many variables involved just to plop down existing floorless trains, including (but not limited to) having to redesign the station to accomidate the different loading procedures (ie: the really spiffy splitting floor).

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- John
*I resign from the game of life if I have to play with stupidity.
*It's the Internet, don't take it so seriously. Don't be a moron and we'll get along fine.

But then Cedar Point would be accused of trying to be like Six Flags, and then people would start "Bring back Stand-Up trains on Mantis" threads on GTTP. You can't please everyone.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew! Have fun trying to find me!

Most normal people would never make such an assertion.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

I've ridden Mantis sitting down, and it is quite forceless. You just can't put as much force on your feet as you can if you're sitting, so the ride seems rather dull if you don't stand.

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Launch: Tophat: Twistage: Brakes...

...Denial is an ugly thing.

Mantis is not rough at all, one of the smoothest rides in the park. The only thing that gets me is the hard restraints, if they'd pad the area around people's heads more, it would be a much more enjoyable ride as my ears always come off throbbing.

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Brent Haley
Gemini Crew '02

Floorless trains on Mantis would be boring. Leave it alone.

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gravity: down to earth, without the sugar coating.

www.geocities.com/gravityjmb

I dont see why some people think Mantis is rough. I think it is one of the smoothest rides in the park and I enjoy going on it. The only advantage to making it a floorless would be loading time because some people don't know how to stand up. Just leave Mantis the way it is.

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Hey.... Whatever
http://coasterplace.web1000.com

Mantis is pretty smooth, even in the back. On some days, it's smoother than big ol Millennium Force. The only thing about this ride, is the position your in get uncomfortable after a while. I love to marathon coasters, but I'll pass on any standup.
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House of Tomorrow: Only technology makes live worth living

Mantis...smooth? What Mantis are you riding?

BTS Cedar Point
http://www.btscedarpoint.tk

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Jeff said:
Most normal people would never make such an assertion.

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Then why did they change the name of the park to 7 Banners?

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew! Have fun trying to find me!

I finally got one of these supposed "rough" rides on Mantis the last time I was there - but I think it was because it was about 50 degrees ourside. This has been discussed over at coasterbuzz a lot too, and I think that in addition to the forces being distributed wrong on your body due to the change in heartline, the layout would be boring, and there would be more headbanging than with standup cars. The quick changes in track angle near the MCBR and after the corkscrew would absolutely kill with floorless, as part of the fun of those is your legs going in a different direction than the rest of you. All other B&M standups have these quick transitions, but none of their sit-downs (floorless, standard or inverted) have them because they're only a fun element when you are standing in the train.

If people would just listen to the instructions and ride the way you're supposed to ride, I think there would be a lot less complaints (a better ride crew might help too - if they were less concerned about their plans after work and more concerned with doing their jobs ... )

Also your complaint about the noise, as far as I know, that isn't the trains, that's the track. From what I've heard from other people, the track was designed to be this loud (the whole Banshee thing ... but I don't know that for sure)

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1. Kumba 2. Millie 3. Mantis 4. Lightning Racer 5. Wicked Twister (front seat)
"The key to a happy life is moderation" -- Jon Stewart
*** This post was edited by PittDesigner 11/2/2002 3:15:52 PM ***

The ride is loud because of the track. The rails are hollow, whereas some B&M's have sand in the rails. Another reason could be the wheels used, but I doubt it.

You know, the topic of putting floorless cars on Mantis has gotten to be the most annoying topic discussed. Mantis was designed as a stand up roller coaster. It is great as a stand up roller coaster. Maybe it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I personally love it the way that it is. There are obviously many other patrons of the park who enjoy it or else it wouldn't have lines.

Mantis is not a rough ride. It does have quick directional changes, which if you are lazy and don't prepare for, might cause some head banging. It does have some forces, that if not ridden properly, might hurt your legs. But I have never had anything but a great ride on it. With first drop trims, without the brakes, with two trains or three trains running. All of the rides have been great and I would hate to see the ride changed other than new paint.

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...and enjoy the rest of your day at Cedar Point, The Am-aaaa-zement park!

Mantis is not a smooth ride...but its not a bad ride! Hell its a ride I skip on every other trip. But sometimes I do feel like riding it, and enjoy it for what its worth, but thats not the point of my post.

If I was a betting man, and I am. NO coaster at Cedar Point will get a MAJOR transformation like becoming stand-up to floorless. Sorry but it will never happen. It is an amazingly rare thing for any amusement park to change the design of they're ride, or for that mater change the car. Yes there are a few that went back to lapbars, and yes there are the VERY few that tried going from Sit-Down to Stand-Up cars. But odds are it will never happen. Maybe in Roller Coaster Tycoon, but not in real life.

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Me thinks we need a rollercoaster posting FAQ

I dont think this was an annoying topic. Just a thought I had and I was wondering what some peoples feelings on the subject were. If you want some real annnoying topics than try the Area 51 forum. I think as long as we keep other topics open we go less crazy and CP will just put out some details. They are eating this up! But I personally think that the Mantis has gotten very headbangy and you really shouldnt have to know how to counteract the forces of a ride on your own just to be comfortable. Just my two cents. And I hope they will clean up the Iron Dragon for 2003 have you seen the top of the track inside the station? It looks disgusting very dirty and faded must be a least a 1/4'' of dirt and dust! Not very promising before boarding.

Could they make BACKWARDS stand-up trains then? ;)

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MiA - The next Cedar Point when they DO run out of room.