Mantis..

Riddler's Revenge is a very fun ride. So much so, that when I went back to ride it this year, I had forgotten that it was a Stand-Up coaster :)

I don't usually have a problem on Mantis. It's far from my favorite. But, I will ride it if the people with me want to.

The stand-up at La Ronde and California's Great America are much worse. CGA's is one of my least favorite stand-ups.

Riddler's revenge is my favorite stand-up, but all stand-ups hurt me in all the wrong places.

There was a time when ops had to maintain a 40 second load time to keep things from backing up. Man are we a long ways away from that. It isn't just Mantis or even Cedar Point for that matter. Capacity stinks everywhere besides Disney and Universal these days. Those parks know how to move riders. Part of the problem is those freakin' seat belts they've retrofitted onto rides that ran fine for 20 years without them.

Does CP still hold the title of Best Capacity? Last time I heard, it did.

Jason Hammond said:
Actually they pulled it backwards to the MCBR. I assume that after letting it go from there, it made it back to the station. It was probably just a combination of cool weather and maybe strong winds. It happens. Other coasters have valleyed as well.

It was only slightly more complicated than that. They winched it backward to the mid-course brake, then they fully loaded the train with employees. The fully loaded train had enough momentum to get back to the station. I actually have video of that very slow half-ride, but I haven't done anything with it. Not sure what I would do with it, actually; it's not *that* interesting.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I have to agree with a few of you. Riddler's Revenge is my favorite stand-up. Mantis is pretty good as well, I just wish I didn't get the tar beaten out of me when I ride in any of the rows with the front row being the exception.

~Rob

RideMan said:
I actually have video of that very slow half-ride, but I haven't done anything with it. Not sure what I would do with it, actually; it's not *that* interesting.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

You could post it on YouTube for us. Or you could sent it to me and I could post it. I'm sure at least a few people here would enjoy it.

Okay, so I guess there is no underestimating what people might want to watch.

Right now my computer is grinding the MTS files down into something that I can actually edit; I'll put a package together and make it available via my blip.tv site over the next few days.

(Sorry; while everything I have shot since last November is AVCHD, editing that in QT-Pro is a pain in the neck and very limiting, as my computer can't actually play it back, so until I upgrade my computer, you get video made from downconversion to DV-25 and converted to H.264 in DV resolution instead of HD. Once I get my computer upgraded, I can go back to the project files and have Avid recompose everything in HD.)

(And if you understood all that, you are a video geek.)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Can someone post a pic of the test seat?

Garret Hebenstreit said:
There was a time when ops had to maintain a 40 second load time to keep things from backing up. Man are we a long ways away from that. It isn't just Mantis or even Cedar Point for that matter. Capacity stinks everywhere besides Disney and Universal these days. Those parks know how to move riders. Part of the problem is those freakin' seat belts they've retrofitted onto rides that ran fine for 20 years without them.

It is my understanding the constant stacking issue with Mantis is the reason they took off the 3rd train. SFMM was moving RR trains out pretty consistantly, I saw a few close intervals. With that being said, I personally think the Mantis crew is asked to do WAY too much. On RR, the riders do their own seatbelts, then are forewarned when the seats will lock. Once locked--if you were stupid enough to sit, and not stand straight as you were instructed, you are SOL. I saw a few guys who's knees were bent when the train was leaving the station and thought to myself, "man they are gonna die" ;)

I feel if the Mantis crew had that same loading procedures they could move 'em out much faster. But thats JMHO!

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

I don't understand how anyone could like Mantis, but apparently there are some that love it. Even if I had no leg pain, it just feels so slow and never fails to leave me feeling a bit nauseous or with a headache.

But, the leg pain is what makes me hate the ride, and I was wondering if anyone knows why I experience this so severely, while others don't? I've stood every which way (and stood in all different sections of the train), but I still get the painful leg pressure that often doesn't go away immediately.

I'm not overweight, so that can't be the issue. Could it mean that my legs are weak or that I have poor flexibility? Or is it purely something genetic? It's so frustrating for me that I'm wincing in pain, and then when I ask my friends if they felt that terrible leg pain, they're like "Huh??? Nothing like that at all..."

I remember the leg pain...

The solution is surprisingly simple. You need to stand up straight.

The most important thing you must do is stand straight up and down, keeping your legs straight up and down, putting your weight directly over your feet. It is not easy to do in those trains, but it can be done.

When you are strapping in, DO NOT lean against the seat back. In fact, shift forward just far enough that your back DOES NOT touch the seat back. To aid in maintaining your posture, try grabbing the two side wings on the seat and using that to stabilize your upper body side-to-side.

The very act of standing in front of a wall is enough to cause most people to lean against the wall (or seat back). DONT. Leaning against the seat will cause you to slide your feet forward, and that causes you to brace your legs at an angle, and that will cause your calves to hurt.

B&M did not make it easy. There are bolts and obstructions on the floor back by the seat pillar that make it even more tempting to slide your feet forward into the unobstructed space. DONT. It will hurt.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

My nephew just got his first ride yesterday. He's rode it 4 times back to back.

I rode Mantis for the first time this past Friday and I surprisingly didn't feel like I was going to pull a leg muscle. Maybe it's because I've been exercising more this year. I don't know. So I plan to ride it again when I make my next trip. I've also learned if you sit more towards the front, It's not so bad. Actually it's comfortable up there.

I rode Mantis today in the front car and got smacked a couple times.When the ride was over I heard the guests behind me say they feel like they were just in a boxing match...how true!
I will say no trim on the 1st hill was a nice surprise! :)

And who ever asked if the test seat came from the 3rd train the answer is yes. The tarp is off the 3rd train and you can clearly see where they took the seat off.

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2185 :)

I used to like Mantis a lot untill I almost screamed in pain one time I was riding it due to the amount of pressure there were on my legs.

Okay; I still don't think the video is all that interesting. But it's online and you can watch it:

Mantis:TCFKAB failed test run recovery

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

*shrugs* I thought it was cool. Thanks for posting!

Wow, if I didn't already know it worked, I'd have guessed that it was moving to slow to make it back to the station. :)

RideMan said:
I remember the leg pain...

The solution is surprisingly simple. You need to stand up straight.

The most important thing you must do is stand straight up and down, keeping your legs straight up and down, putting your weight directly over your feet. It is not easy to do in those trains, but it can be done.

When you are strapping in, DO NOT lean against the seat back. In fact, shift forward just far enough that your back DOES NOT touch the seat back. To aid in maintaining your posture, try grabbing the two side wings on the seat and using that to stabilize your upper body side-to-side.

The very act of standing in front of a wall is enough to cause most people to lean against the wall (or seat back). DONT. Leaning against the seat will cause you to slide your feet forward, and that causes you to brace your legs at an angle, and that will cause your calves to hurt.

B&M did not make it easy. There are bolts and obstructions on the floor back by the seat pillar that make it even more tempting to slide your feet forward into the unobstructed space. DONT. It will hurt.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I just wanted to say thanks for this detailed reply, and I'm excited to try this next trip. I have always tried to stand straight as possible, but I believe I was resting against the seat back, so thanks again for the input.

My "grey out" issue on Millenium Force has finally been fixed thanks to these forums, so I'm optimistic about Mantis.