Mean Streak- Redone

The one million riders a year is just an outright lie that CP likes to perpetuate. No way Mean Streak fives more than half of that per year at this point, maybe much less...

Its simply not rideable anymore.

Out of curiosity, people who find mean streak "rough" or "unbearable" what other wooden coasters have you been on that you thought were either better or equally rough?

Jason Hammond said:
I'm not sure why I'm even responding to this thread. But, while at the park this past weekend, I asked and was told that Mean Streak still sees over 1,000,000 riders each year.

I'd like to meet those 1,000,000 die hards!! They must love headaches!!

Mean Streak is not particularly rough, it's just not the best layout. I can ride it multiple times with no discomfort. Sit in the front seat of a car if you want a slightly smoother ride.

Mean Streak is a great ride you just have to know how to ride it to avoid pain. First, DO NOT RIDE IN THE BACK unless you are fully prepared. Choose a seat that is closer to the front / middle that is probably the smoothest place. I have found that the front car is not always the smoothest. Secondly, do not ride with your hands up. Hold on to the seat in front of you or the bar. Ride with your back forward a bit so that you are not in contact with the seat back. If your back is against the seat you will hit your head/ get a headache.

IMO, Mean Streak is like wine. It is an acquired taste and not everyone likes it; however, if you do like it you want it everyday.

I think that turning Mean Streak into a frankencoaster like the Iron Rattler or New Texas Giant (the old Texas Giant was a great coaster) is a terrible idea. Yes, it will make the ride smoother and increase ridership for awhile but the nostalgia of a good wooden coaster would be lost with that change.

You just need to learn how to ride it and then it is a great ride! I marathon on it frequently (sometimes 10x a day) and never have problems with headaches.

Any coaster that you have to "learn how to ride" in order to not feel pain is fatally flawed from the get go. Although admittedly, Mean Streak hasn't been all that terrible in terms of roughness since they did the track work a couple seasons ago.

However, if you've ridden more than 5 wooden coasters in your life, you'll know that Mean Streak's layout is about as dull as it gets. That's something that can only be fixed by scrapping it or doing a major overhaul like Texas Giant.

cbjfan said:

I marathon on it frequently (sometimes 10x a day) and never have problems with headaches.

I'm with you. If Mean Streak is removed or rebuilt, say hello to long lines again. When all the other coasters have big wait times, ill happily ride MS for an hour or two. Same with Blue Streak.

As a sidenote, CP will never be able to build a woodie like The Beast at Kings Island or The Voyage (Holiday World). There just isn't room for an awesome layout like that. I hope they prove me wrong!

Pete said:
Mean Streak is not particularly rough, it's just not the best layout. I can ride it multiple times with no discomfort. Sit in the front seat of a car if you want a slightly smoother ride.

I can agree with that...very true statement....front car is pretty smooth to say the least....

Jeremiah said:
I'm with you. If Mean Streak is removed or rebuilt, say hello to long lines again.

Yeah people tend to like to ride new rides. It's also how the park makes money. :)

Jeremiah said:

As a sidenote, CP will never be able to build a woodie like The Beast at Kings Island or The Voyage (Holiday World). There just isn't room for an awesome layout like that. I hope they prove me wrong.

They don't have a large heavily forrested area, but HW and KI don't have a giant lake. I still find it pretty ridiculous that The Beast is still so prominent in KI adverstising/marketing. Other than Diamondback, they haven't been able to build another great ride for over 30 years.

Ralph Wiggum said:
Any coaster that you have to "learn how to ride" in order to not feel pain is fatally flawed from the get go.

Seems that Maverick falls into that category based on comments that I hear at the park and on this site.

Staaber said:

I'd like to meet those 1,000,000 die hards!! They must love headaches!!

Mean Streak Jack (Henry) rides this ride all the time, but he was in row 3 power riding during CoasterMania... might have to try row 3 like previously stated on this thread.

CoasterMania ERT was the last time I rode it, front row and it was rough :(

Jeremiah said:

cbjfan said:

I marathon on it frequently (sometimes 10x a day) and never have problems with headaches.

I'm with you. If Mean Streak is removed or rebuilt, say hello to long lines again. When all the other coasters have big wait times, ill happily ride MS for an hour or two. Same with Blue Streak.

As a sidenote, CP will never be able to build a woodie like The Beast at Kings Island or The Voyage (Holiday World). There just isn't room for an awesome layout like that. I hope they prove me wrong!

The Beast is awesome. I haven't ridden it in a few years and am looking forward to it this year. But I think I read somewhere that they did something to the double helix. I used to always ride it in the back and it used to slam you to the side when it entered the first tunnel of the helix and I heard it doesn't do that anymore.

Also, I'm reading those comments on how they ride Mean Streak "correctly". It's been years since I've ridden it but maybe I'll brave up and try the last suggestion on here, especially sitting forward. I don't know, the last time I rode it seemed I tried different things during the course of the ride and nothing was stopping my brain getting pounded.

As of May, Beast's double helix was the smoothest I can ever remember it.

Shades said:

Seems that Maverick falls into that category based on comments that I hear at the park and on this site.

I'd agree with that. Except Maverick's fix is much easier, as a less pain inducing version of those restraints already exist on I-305.

CBJFAN...

If, like you said - "Mean Streak is like wine", it should be renamed Thunderbird!

(It's been a long time since I had a BAG of that brand, about as long as it's been since my last ride on MS)

Went on Meanstreak last night and took a ride in the front row. This was probably the smoothest ride I have ever had on it and yes, I did keep my back forward the ride. However, we decided to go on it again but this time in the back row and all I can say is the front row is worth the wait.

@3Noswhatevertherestis :P

Beast got extensive retracking/reprofile, the helix is now almost close to butter smooth with nice classic woodie jerk nothing more.

That ride is a greatly maintained and powerful ride. The first turn out of the shed to the first tunnel...Sexy

RonAnnArbor said:
The one million riders a year is just an outright lie that CP likes to perpetuate. No way Mean Streak fives more than half of that per year at this point, maybe much less...

Its simply not rideable anymore.

You really think that Mean Streak gets less than half a million riders a year? Just because it doesn't have a very long wait doesn't mean that trains aren't getting filled up or at least somewhat filled.

The line never backs up but the only time I've noticed the trains mostly empty when I've gone is shortly before closing.

If it's a unpopular ride then why didn't cedar point take it down, it's a classic wood coaster.

CPfan1976, you are so right about leaning forward on Mean Streak. All those years I rode, pushing back against the seat, and hated the ride. Then last year I heard about holding the bar and pulling forward. I can now enjoy and ride the MS repeatedly. Same with Firehawk (X Flight at GL). I use to push back on the shoulder straps and it felt like it was cutting into my body and legs. Now I just relax and put my full weight on the straps. Yes it does make a big difference. No headaches or sore necks.