Maverick Shoulder Harness

Retrofit with TTD or MF lap bars!!!! :)

I have rode Maverick 4 times and I've never had any bruises but it hurts my legs a little when it goes over the airtime hills.

I had my hands up the whole ride for all 3 of my rides on friday and I didnt get any marks on my shoulders. It didnt hurt either.

I've rode the Maverick 3 times so far, and I am fine with the shoulder harness. With most of every ride with the Shoudler harness; I put my head in front of them so I don't bump my head right and left.

The only part I hold on is during the Turns in the beginning and the final stengal dive... other than that I can pretty much keep my arms up and be fine. I made the mistake during the red cross rides and kept my hands up the whole ride 3 times straight... bruises for a week. I also found that holding on to the OTSR and not the handles helps a lot to.

I rode Mavvy in the front 2 times, and 2 in the back and the harnesses do not bother me. I put my hands up next to my ears when the train changes direction like that. that way, I can control the movement from the train vs. my head and know when to take control. But that ride rocks all the way anyway, any day!!

By the way, did anyone ever notice that the back of the last car rattles behind your head? it sounds like something's loose!

I find that when riding in the back seat it is essential to hold on almost the entire ride. When riding in the front or near the front, if I "keep arms down" around the turns after the first drop and during the dive around the pond I can go home bruise free after a long day of beatings. :)

I rode in the very back seat for my ride on Saturday (first and only... thus far...) and had no problems. Nobody else complained of pain, and we're varying sizes and shapes (two skinny, tall kids, me -- short (5'4") and on the fluffy side, and my brother -- tall (around 6ft?) and solid, but not hugely heavy.) Only problem I had was the 9yo, who kept putting his arms through middle of the OTSRs while waiting for launch... nearly gave me multiple heart attacks. We all held on, head back, etc (the others were in Row 5.)

I'd take these in a heartbeat over the harnesses on many inverts (Raptor, especially the former Serial Thriller at Geauga Lake.) Much less headbanging.

Carrie

Lean into the turns. Sounds silly, but it works. Whenever I approach one of the turns, I lean my head and body into it. It eliminates the discomfort, ecspecially the headbanging.

halltd said:
Retrofit with TTD or MF lap bars!!!! :)

I'm not sure if you're being serious or not, but this actually might not be a bad idea. It seems to me that the only reason that they would REALLY need the lap bars was for the heartline roll, but now that that's gone, I'm not sure. I think Flight of Fear at Kings Island is more intense in terms of jolting riders around, and that utilizes lap bars. I think it's a good idea.

It is a great idea no doubt. But as many know, the MF restraint doesn't work for a number of different body types. I would like to see the pull over your head lap portion of the restraint and eliminate the shoulder portion. Maverick is a rough ride in terms of quick transitions and if you are very small or not prepared, my neck/head certainly hit the shoulder portion of the restraints with a fair amount of force. Like others have mentioned, leaning forward and holding on to the restraint around my ears helped tremendously to make a smooth enjoyable ride. IMO Maverick is the best ride in the park.

How could you have a restraint that pulls over your head without having something go over your shoulders?

^ - like this.

(Thanks Dave)

^^ That's pretty easy. Take a look at THIS picture. It clearly shows the lap portion of the restraint is actually hooked to the pivoting part of the restraint. So, if you chopped off the OTSR parts, the lap bar would still be attached to the seat pivot. But, there would be no head banging. w00t! :)

I'm not sure you could just chop it off and not weaken the lap restraint. But, that shows it could still work if they wanted to design something like that.

EDIT: Because I can't make links. *** Edited 6/21/2007 4:02:26 PM UTC by halltd***

nice pic. I'm sold.

Well i'm only 14 and 5' 5" soo my shoulders don't even reach the shoulder harnesses when i put my hands up so it doesn't bother me one bit! :)

im really tall and havent had a problem in my shoulders. but the firtst time i rode it the pushed it down to tight and i lost all the feeling in my right leg totally worth it though.

I went yesterday and I have the same bruises in the same spots.

Having been on it Tuesday, I am bruise free. I will say that the Stengel-ish dives or whatever they are were the most violent for me, in terms of the harness becoming an issue.

But, damn, what an intense ride. :)

I was thinking about maybe utilizing lap bars like the ones on Skyhawk, but then I remembered the dispatch time for Skyhawk and immediately smacked myself for considering such an idea for Maverick. Mavvy's gotta get out of that station!