Maverick Crew cracking down on no earing policy.

Never thought of it like that.... I will correct myself and say: I like Mavericks OTSR's. those are the only ones I've ever liked the rest suck big time.

I really suppose it depends on one's height(mine,5'2"), because the Maverick restraints beat me up the worst.

I'm 6'1'' I think you're right it probably has to do with height and weight like most things.

I would have to agree that the Maverick OTSR's suck. I don't think all OTSR's suck, but the way Maverick's are designed suck. Unless you have rode the ride enough to know you have to lean into the turns, it turns into unpleasant head banging. I don't have this problem much with other OTSR's, but Maverick's OTSR design just sucks.

Maverick is the one ride I can't put my hands up the entire time without really getting head banging. I found that if you hold onto the OTSRs about where your shoulders are, it helps stabilize your head to keep it from hitting the sides of the restraints. That's what I do whenever I ride it and never have a problem with head banging.

Is anyone on my side? anyone?

^ Not so far.

Tim, I am. I have no issues with Maverick's restraints. Especially after you've been on the ride once and know how to ride it. Although I'm 6'2" so it may really be a height thing. I never hit my head on them.

The restraints aren't the source of disagreement, it's his assertion that the asinine earring policy is OK.

I personally ride Maverick without any pain from the OTSR whatsoever (I'm 6'1"). To me, you just have to ride it with some intelligence, knowing how to lean and brace yourself at the right times, and no hands up of course (they should be clenched to the front of each strap to aid in bracing).

However, it seems those of varying heights / weights / strengths just cannot tolerate the hard straps. I have a couple friends where I've tried to explain how to avoid a beating by the OTSR repeatedly, but they just never learn. I have a feeling that they're riding it like a limp noodle, but who am I to keep lecturing them on how to ride? This is supposed to be thoughtless fun for any park guest.

While I was initially very irritated and frustrated that my friends claimed Maverick was the roughest, most-abusive ride in the park, I saw the bruises around their neck / shoulders from hitting the OTSR, and I hate the OTSR's on Maverick as a result.

Holding the restraints towards the top and leaning into the turns alleviate much of the head banging from me. If I dont do these things I tend to get bruises on my arms. Its interesting to note that there are signs up that prohibit holding the OTSRs at the top. I wonder if they'll crack down on that too...

^If they do start to stop people from doing that, you know that almost everyone will just hold that spot again once the train pulls out of the station.

Don't some people like OSTRs because it makes them feel safe? Some folks like to feel more secure than others.

Yeah, but I can't see people liking them very much if they're uncomfortable. It sort of depends on the ride, too. Like for Raptor I'd rather have OTSRs than a lapbar, but on Maverick I'd much rather prefer a lap bar than OSTRs, especially considering how much better that ride would be. It's already a great ride, but imagine having no bruises or headbanging, plus just think of that first drop with only a lapbar...But I'm not sure how far companies would go with installing lap bars on coasters that have several inversions, since most that do have OSTRs. I think they'd be a lot more fun if they didn't though.

^ If you didn't have OTSR on Maverick, I am pretty sure you would smack heads with the person next to you.

If a ride is using a shoulder bar to keep you from banging your head into an adjacent rider, then that ride is doing it wrong. You do not provide upper body lateral restraint by containing the rider's ears or neck. That's just plain wrong.

About the only ride I can think of where shoulder restraints of any kind are actually appropriate are the ones where you lay down.

The shoulder bars on Maverick are particularly egregious, made even worse by the fact that they are attached to probably the best lap bar design that Intamin has ever put onto a coaster.

The best way to improve Maverick would be to remove the shoulder restraints from it.

Anyone who thinks shoulder bars would be a good idea on any ride that doesn't already have them should have his head examined. And should have his enthusiast credentials revoked.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
(campaigning on the Internet against shoulder bars since 1991)

Chuck Wagon said:
Don't some people like OSTRs because it makes them feel safe? Some folks like to feel more secure than others.

OTSRs are the TSA of the coaster world. They don't actually make anyone safer, but make some people think they are.

I've longed wished that Maverick had TTD's restraints. In my opinion, those are the most comfortable restraints ever designed, at least for my body type.

Maverick's restraints are just bad, regardless of height. I'm on the taller side (6'2'') so I get banged on my checks instead of ears if I ride without holding the top of the restraint.

Holding the top of the restraint to stabilize my body and leaning into the turns works very well to keep from getting banged by the restraint, but you shouldn't have to do that.

I agree with Kevin that TTD and MF restraints are comfortable but nothing beats the B&M restraints on Diamondback and Intimidator.