Mantis--Look who's talking

Here's an interesting point. Me and my best friend are about the same exact size and weight. When we ride mantis, I'm pain free and love it. He usually complains that the headbanging is too intense or that he pulled a muscle in his back. Yet, he's far more in shape than I am. My point is I think it's partly psychological because he's timid of "standing up" on a ride and therefore more tense while riding it.

I've been advised (right here on GTTP) to ride Mantis with your feet all the way back, leaning forward into the restraints. It works. You are not supposed to rest on the saddle. I've never had a head banging, nor a nut busting ride on Mantis (or it's clone at Tragic Mountain - Riddlers Revenge).

I also think the key is to relax and ride WITH it and not AGAINST it. Mantis is a great ride. I especially love the trims on the drop. The hang-time in the loop is amazing. I also recommend the very back of the train.

Ron

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Dream Out Loud

MF: 31 - Shootin' for 10,000
Wicked Twists: 4

Craig the Coaster Freak - That is exactly how I ride it. It hurts the groin occasionally, but mostly its the awkward position I have to stand in because of the seat width. If you stand straight up I defy you to tell me that the seat doesn't push your legs apart and you don't end up straddling it even if it is lower than the height of your crotch. When you stand regularly, you stand with your legs directly beneath you, but this is what Mantis defeats. It is impossible to stand fully erect without the seat pushing your legs outward. You only have so much room on the floor to place your feet, so it ends up giving you this hunched-feeling bow-legged posture - even if you lean into the restraints. Leaning into the restraints help, but do not make it that much more comfortable.

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cyberdman

Votex at PKI was painted this season, and a lot of work was done to it's track. Vortex is now as smooth as ever. I was wondering, since Mantis is supposed to get a paint job, will it's track be worked on, and if it is, will it be smoother?

The only problem I've ever had with Mantis is the ride ops. Yesterday they were incredably slow for one reason or another. This year they also seem to be raising up your seat so you are practicly sitting on it, and then it's painfull. This has happened to me almost every time this year. Don't get me wrong, I love Mantis, it's one of my favorite rides, but those factors slightly upset me.

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AKA...Somewhatchewy
"For the times you wana go, and bust rhymes real slow... I'll appear, slap you on the face and enjoy the show... =w=

That is a good point CoasterKrazy, and exactly what is was going to say. I'm sure after a paint job the ride will be different, just like Vortex.

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...I will be more than happy to give you a cigarette...

at CoasterMania! the crew was actually very fast in the morning ERT. But they did push up my saddle so my feet just barely touched the ground. which was a little painful. But Mantis is still a great coaster, its just beginning to get a little rough

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Nick
Webmaster
AmusementMania.com
*** This post was edited by Nick-Mac 6/11/2002 2:03:50 PM ***

I had the same problem once this year (of the two times I've ridden it). I was standing up just fine, the same way I have since my first ride in 1997, and the op came around and yanked up. Oh and to add to that, he pushed in the OTSR as far as it would possibly go without crushing me. Throughout the ride, my feet were hardly touching the floor of the train... that was my most painful Mantis ride ever... :(

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Break the scream barrier NOW!
Wicked twists: 4
Danger: Hgih Voltage!

I too love this ride. However, at times it is rough on the legs. I've never had the head trouble.

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LIVE FOR FUN!
MagnumFAN is back! But now he's a ShoelessRider!

I have loved Mantis since the year it opened. I've never had a bad ride on it, which makes me really question how these other people are riding it when they complain about leg/groin pain. I won't get into the debate of "how to ride Mantis" because it's been done, over and over again.

But, I think all of you would appreciate Mantis a lot more if you've taken a ride on Batman: The Escape at Six Flags Astroworld. This ride is intense. For those of you who don't know, it's a compact, one inversion, Intamin stand-up. There is one camelback hill (The third major element in the ride, so there's still plenty of speed... vertical loop, banked turn (like Mantis over the station), then camelback) Taking on some massive airtime while standing up, I admit.. was pretty darn cool in itself, but slamming back down and taking a hard banked turn up and to the right into the mid-course brake run is absolute hell on your legs if you're not prepared for it.

But, that didn't stop me from riding it 4 times in a row. ;) My point, Mantis is a great ride... don't be so quick to toss it to the side.

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gravity: down to earth, without the sugar coating.

www.geocities.com/gravityjmb

I enjoy this ride only if the ops don't force the seat higher than my legs will allow. The Coaster Mania ERT was a little painful because of the op jamming it into my crotch.

I have learned that in the back seat, if you raise your feet off the ground immediately after the turn at the top of the hill, you can "float" the whole way down the hill. Just make sure to put your feet down before you reach the bottom or you will be in a large amount of pain :)

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-Chris Woodard
Six Flags: More fun than an anal probe!

I don't need this ride anymore intense. My groin can't take it.

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Millennium Force Laps: 8
Wicked Twister Twists: 1
Hey, I'm from Florida.

Crotch jamming is a problem, and makes it more difficult to stand. Think about turning a "V" upside down and pushing a circle up into it. It spreads out the "V." Same phenomenon for your legs, only with someone standing next to you there is no place to put your legs. The result is you end up bow-legged, which is of course insanely uncomfortable and nearly forces you to sit, the very opposite of what they want you to do.

Naturally I find the best arrangement is to have the harness very nearly touch your shoulders. That gives you room to stand properly. I hope Bill Spehn is listening to this one!

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I have to say I rode the Mantis enough to strongly dislike it.

When it was my 30-40th coaster, I was wild about it. But after notching another 40+ ciasters under my belt before riding it 6-7 times before Coastermania GP close from different locations (front, back, middle) my POV has significantly changed.

The OTSRs desperately need replacing with softer material a la Chang or PKI's Invertigo. It's full of transitions and turns as abrupt as an oversized Arrow coaster. While I've had slower (forceless) rides during the day, night rides were eye-opening in the most unfortunate way.

I can't readily compare it to Chang or SFGAM's Iron Wolf because I haven't boarded either of them at night. But after getting my head and ears bashed enough, I have no choice but to rate Mantis Cold Fries Bad by day and Just Plain Awful by night.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 34 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.
*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya 6/12/2002 2:31:45 PM ***

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needless quotation removed -J

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That is exactly what I have been saying all along. Finally someone "gets" it. ;)

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cyberdman
*** This post was edited by Jeff 6/12/2002 6:14:01 PM ***

I disagree, mantis is a very good coaster, i have no clue how you all are riding it but i didnt getand pain anywhere while riding it, day or night.

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PH34R M4 1337 N3KKID SKI11Z

I think it all depends on where you ride, and certainly on 'how' you ride as well, but the semantics of 'how to stand up properly' have already been discussed.

Living near Iron Wolf, I am no stranger to rough stand up coasters, and prior to riding the bug, I had ridden both Wolf and PKI's Cobra (ick.) Mantis, when compared to those rides, is nothing short of excellent. But after riding other B&M standups (Scorcher and Riddler), I've realized that there is a way to ride them comfortably.

First, I always go for the front seat. The wait is not really too fun, but if you can stand (sorry) it, you'll be able to have a great view of the track, and you'll be able to prepare yourself for the next intense twist. Secondly, I always go for the middle, as much as I can. If it isn't possible, that's fine, but the middle gives a little tamer ride, and you don't get whipped around quite as much.

When you couple that with the suggestions from other riders around here, Mantis should be pretty enjoyable. In fact, after riding in the front enough, I have enough of a grasp on the layout where I'd be able to follow it from any row.

Let me also say that I love this coaster. :)

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-Matt (Czar of the ever-reworking Loopscrew.com & proponent of campy Demon theme song! VIVA!)