Mantis Trims

I noticed some time ago that the Mantis had trim brakes. (Old News =P) and I was Wondering if that could have any effect on the smoothness of the ride. I went on before the Trims were in place and the ride was alot smoother and better.

------------------
Going To The Point On 10/12
Look Me Up On Neopets: cedarpointfan

I don't know about the trims making the ride any smoother, but the trims were added due to undue stress caused on the supports. Maybe someone else can chime in on the smoothness of the ride...

------------------
MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

That's not what People Who Know(TM) say. They say the trim was added to gain a few seconds on interval.

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Who are these "People Who Know". Doesn't matter because if you have seen the pictures from before the trims, you can clearly see the stress on the supports. It would be unrealistic to add trims just for interval. I don't believe it!

------------------
MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

Maybe the supports deflected a little more before the trim, but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with that. If it's not for interval, I'd believe it's there to ease G forces on rider's legs before I would think the structure couldn't take it.

------------------
I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

No kidding... there's supposed to be deflection by design. And in this case, the PWK has a "V" and a "P" in his title.

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

That's nice. But after what you did with WT two years ago, I don't really have much faith in much of what you say.

------------------
MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

I'd have to agree; I rode Mantis a number of years ago and it seemed much smoother than the last few years with the new brakes (much less head banging).

What I did with WT? What exactly was that?

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

You guys are all aware that Mantis has operated with the trims longer now than it operated without them, right?

------------------
- John
I Snap Flyers

Not all of the supports on Mantis are the same. Several that are close to the ground appear to have some kind of ball and socket connector (similar to a truck and trailer hitch) between the track connector and support itself.

Here's an example from Joyrides.

These types of supports all over the 2nd half of the ride. I'm not sure if it's to help deflect more stress from the supports, but I don't recall seeing them on any other ride type but B&M's stand-ups. I doubt this would be a factor of adding a trim though.

Why, if they are no longer concerned about interval, do they still proceed to keep the trim on? It's not like they stack with just two trains or anything...oh wait a minute, yeah they do...unacceptable.

------------------
...and the most anticipated event of summer 2003 is...

The Matrix: Reloaded!

Batman Knight Flight (B&M Floorless) at WOA has the same ball and socket joints on the supports. They are to help impact the force of the trains as they travel over it. If you have ever really closely watched the track as the trains travel over these supports, you can see the track dip down some. This helps witht he smoothness of the ride.

As for stacking, it will continue to happen as long as we have to load 32 people in every train or until they add more ride hosts on platform so that every 1-2 people has their own personal ride hosts. Constant bouncing and inattentiveness to instructions does not help to curb the stacking.

Talk to any other ride operator in the park and most will tell you that Mantis is the hardest ride to work on because of the difficulty involved with the ride itself.

------------------
MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

There's nothing difficult about running the ride, it's dealing with the people. Additionally, someone decided a few years ago to require that the crew make a scene when someone isn't standing. I say who cares, let them get their manparts crushed or be uncomfortable. Even worse is this stupid requirement that the few people who actually can buckle their belt aren't allowed to.

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Are the Trims off? because when you ride Mantis you dont feel it slow down, or the train bite as you do with Mean Streak when the trims are on. and if those supports are on the second half of the ride, couldn't they just put the blocks to slow the train furthur?

------------------
TTD: 6 (Rollbacks seen: 24)
MF: 20
WT: 9

The supports that they are talking about are all over the entire ride (not just the second half). As far as I know, the trims are always on. Maintenance and Supervision only turn them off (or down) if it is really cold or trains can't be filled because of weight issues.

------------------
MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

Could they not have just slowed the lift hill a tiny bit to get a few more seconds between trains?

Personally, I like the trims. They provide a nice pop of air on the top of the first loop.

------------------
AKA Cobraroller on Cbuzz

Marcus said:
Could they not have just slowed the lift hill a tiny bit to get a few more seconds between trains?

I agree, that may be more breathtaking. LOL

------------------
Going To The Point On 10/12
Look Me Up On Neopets: cedarpointfan

Trims were definitely off tonight, as I had one of the best rides that I can remember. Not only was it much smoother than normal without the brakes, but the speed throughout the course of the ride was amazing compared to it's normal standard. I really hope we see the trims off more often but I doubt it'll happen...

------------------
HW 2K3: 4

I have a question. I have ridden Mantis 2 times and both times were painful. I kept my head back against the headrest and my ears and the side of my head get beaten. My brother says to lean foreward (your head). Is this really the way to ride?

And yes, I wear glasses. Which cause additional pain. I really want to like this ride but it hurts too much. Please help!

MrScott

------------------
"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"