How big are you? Can you ride?

I just came back yesterday on Sunday and rode MF once. Wasn't sure if I'll make it, but I did in spite of my size or tallness.

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 230-235 lb.
Waist: 40"
Verdict: Passed with 1/2" to spare.

MF was the first ride I decided to head for once I was in the park. I had to check with the test seat to see if they'll let me ride. When it was my turn to test it (there was a line), the person there (Peggy Bertsch) just wave me through. I couldn't believe it without even testing me. So I asked her again to confirm it; sure, she says.

The line then was an hour or so, so I decided to Freeway it to come back at 3-4. When I did, she wanted me to test it. I couldn't believe it. Shouldn't she kind of remember who I look like? But then there are a lot of riders she has to go through.

So I tested it and passed. Joy to the world!!!

On a similar note, while I was waiting for my very first front row of the Force, riders were being told to leave because of the new policy at an average rate of 1 rider per train. Disappointments everywhere for those folks.

6'3". 250 pounds, 38" waist.

Not even going to try to ride. I had a hard enough time last year trying to get the belt to lock. As mentioned earlier in this thread, I too think that my problem is more of a thigh issue then a gut issue. I ran/biked for many years. Even though I am out of shape currently, I still have very muscular thighs.

6'1"

165

Of course I can, I'm a distance runner.

I found a few helpful hints when I was there last week. I mention them because they might help you get a ride if you're close to borderline.

1. Remove any extra sweatshirts, coats, etc. from around your waist line. If you can stand being without them for the length of the wait and ride, it'll help.

2. Throw those fanny packs in the lockers.

3. Expect to get asked to try the test seat each time you get in line.

I expected to be able to ride since I rode opening day. I am a bit over 200 #, size 16-18 for a girl. With a fanny pack and a sweatshirt, I almost didn't have enough slack. Fortunately, the worst of the colder weather might be behind us now (or at least until September) so hopefully I can avoid being asked each time I go.

I did get asked to try the test seat after I rode the first time. It took some real patience on my end, but I calmly explained that I had just ridden and told the woman at the seat how much slack I had. She was not having a pleasant day, and I feel really bad that the crew has to deal with this.

For those who care, the airtime isn't like it used to be with the new belt positions. Ah, well, back to my preferred coasters...

Laura

Though it does help, not wearing a fanny pack while testing the MF seat does help trying to get some slack. When I did mine, I wasn't sure to take it off or not. So I did it, wearing my pack and passed nevertheless. This happened in spite of my rather big thighs and waist. Height and waist and weight definitely can't tell whether you fit or not until you test it.

this is stupid but sum1 please tell me if i could ride ?

6'6 225 lbs and a 36 waist

If your stats are true, yes, I'd say you would be able to ride MF. Maybe not WT because of your height.

MrScott

Kara had me try the test seat.

6' 2"

220 lbs

38" waist

Yes! Rode 3 times Monday.

Take your wallet out of your back pocket. It gave me quite a bit more belt.

My frist trip to CP this year

6'2

244

38' shorts

ABLE TO RIDE?!?!?!?!

of course! got on fine with like 2 inchs of slack

after reading all theses posts the last few weeks...i admit i was a lil worried...but not to be mean...you still got to be a pretty big person to be turned down...and i mean you can tell the ppl that were able 2 ride and the ppl that couldnt ride 2 its pretty much the same as its always been except for a few border line people which sucks and is a stupid rule but waht can you do? from what i gathered over the past few weeks

its not really a weight issue at all

its about your legs, waist and butt

anything over 40' jeans is questionable(40" shouldnt be a problem unless your really squezzing into them) but 42 and up is really questionable

MF seatbelts hold a girth of 46' and you need at least one inch of slack...so you say to yourself i wear 44 jeans i can get that and the 2 inchs extra slack and be right at the 46 grith right? wrong.. if your border line, measure yourself...measure where the seatbelt would be not your waist, the uper leg, tight region..mine is like 42-43 inchs and i was able to ride

just anohter point of veiw from someone who was actually at the park

While all of you are comparing waist sizes and it does make for a decent indicator, other areas of the body should be considered as well. With the belt fastening more across the legs than across the waist, theigs and butt make just as much of a difference. You may not have a large waist size, but if your hips are in fact wider you might find it hard to get that inch of slack.

And as raptorgrl said, don't be surprised if you are asked to try the seat multiple times in the same day. With the ride ops rotating positions throughout the day, friends I have been with were asked by different people to try the seat. And simply informing them that you have already ridden on the same day only seems to appease some ride ops and not others.

For the ladies,
Was there this past weekend, tried the test seat and was unable to get the required slack (she said I must have at least 2"). I just didn't have enough strength to pull the belt and the ride op said too bad. Size 14/16.

I was still at 6'2", 250, and when I put the tape around my waist It was a 43". That was this past weekend. The ass must really have something to do with it, cause I don't have one and I was able to pull 3" of slack.

With all of the complaining by men, it's actually the women here that are at a disadvantage. I noticed while waiting in line and watching incoming trains that women tend to have less slack than similarly proportioned men. I assume this is because women have hips and tend to carry their weight lower than men.

The women are the ones that should really be complaining.

I noticed a lot of that over the weekend with the women Jeff. Since I was able to ride, I should quit my pouting and change my signature. *** Edited 6/1/2004 11:00:16 PM UTC by Mr. Ninja***

Jeff,

Do you really have to encourage women to complain?

(I'm sure I'll be B**ch Slapped for that). ;)

MrScott

ok, i have a question...

for those of you who have been to dorney park, how different are the seats in comparision to steel force? i know they are not really the same coasters by any means, but i haven't been to CP in like four years, and i was at dorney a few times last year. i had no problem with riding Steel Force. Has anyone on this thread been on both and can tell me how the seats and restraints are similar, if at all?

this may sound totally stupid to even ask, but i'm freaking about not being able to ride.

also, i'm 5'10', about 250, with a 42'' waist, wide shoulders, a 50'' chest, 27'' thighs, and its about 46'' around my butt. i know thats an almost obscene amount of information, lol, but i am just wondering.

J

I was there on 5/28 and MF was the last ride of the night so me and my dad get towards the back and while I got the seat belt to lock with a 38" waist there was like only 1/2 inch of lack. The ride Op. was a big guy and he saw that and putted both hand in the loop and pulled up on it and got 3 or 4 inches of lack out of it. It was very weard.

Isn't Steel Force a Morgan coaster? And isn't one of the other better rides at Dorney a B&M? By the way, for larger coaster lovers,, Bolliger & Mabillard translates to the "good Swiss.," as opposed to their brethren at THAT OTHER Swiss coaster manufacturer.

I was at Valley Fair three years ago and enjoyed my repeated rides on Wild Thing, which I believe is a Morgan ride. (California companies rock, dude!). And that coaster had what I guess would be described as retractable lap belts, something similar to a car's belts (perhaps from another era). They were easy to work, even for a larger person, and once they were fastened, they locked in.

Guess that makes too much sense for those Intamin geniuses.

Yes Steel Force is a morgan coaster, and Valley Fair; Wild Thing sounds like the seat belts and lap bars on Dorney Parks Steel force. And Talon Dorney Parks B&M Inverted Coaster has 2 seats on both trains that can seat a larger guest. Also Great Bear a B&M Inverted Coaster at Hershey Park has a larger seat for there larger guest. So its looks like Intamin don't like large people.

Dennis
Lehigh Valley, PA

Do I win the prize??

6'7"

260 lbs

40" waist

2" of slack ;)