Rougarou / Valravn restraints

I don't know, it's always seemed like a lot of exaggeration about people of small to "normal" size not fitting on rides on this site. 5'10" 255-260, rode WT with no problem last year. I rode in the front left seat because I read that belt was more forgiving, but I pulled the bar down and latched the belt without any struggle. My weight has fluctuated between 240-260 over the years, and fortunately, I've always fit on everything while there's always someone on here who had a friend of a friend who weighed 115 pounds and couldn't ride Blue Streak. Do the math.

People carry weight differently. Some people weigh far more than you would expect them to. When I was younger people would never believe me if I told them how much I weighed. Even now that I'm definitely overweight nobody guesses anywhere close to what I weigh and I frequently find people that look "bigger" than me but weigh less than I do.

Maybe they’re being polite?

I'm not trying to be impolite or rude or call anyone a liar or anything of that sort, it's just that I've noticed over the years what seems to be a lot of exaggeration. I'm a big guy and fitting on everything before you go can be kind of nerve racking, as I'm sure a lot of other people know. I know people carry weight differently but I'll read threads with people saying they weigh 30 pounds less than me, 6" smaller waist, 4" smaller chest and couldn't come close on some of the coasters. So I get pretty nervous only to go and have no problem. Doesn't add up to me.

^ I wish people were that polite. It comes up when clothing is discussed and someone wonders why I don't shop at a particular store and I tell them it's because they only have sizes up to 16 and I no longer fit in anything in the store and they just look at me confused.

DRose I think many people just don't know how to properly measure themselves and so they don't truly know what size they are or with some women they squeezed themselves into a 12 so they believe they are a 12 but really they're a 16 and they wear their pants way too tight. I think some people too aren't as creative at placing themselves in the seat and so they don't fit where a larger but more creative and body conscious person will make themselves fit.

Hmmm. I think there might be good money to be made in this creative ride placing idea. I would hire you. ;)

There’s even more money to be made with “aspirational sizing” of clothing.

I’ve learned some of those placing tricks myself. In addition to making sure my wallet and belt don’t add unwanted inches, I know on which rides I should sit as far back as possible (Windseeker) or even twist to one side or the other (Monster). I’m not huge. I always fit, but I look for ways to make myself comfortable and not slow down the process for others.
I wish rides like MF and TTD has retractable belts that buckle in from like Steel Vengeance. For me, those two rides sometimes require assistance from an op. The belt fits just fine, but it’s way to the side under the armrest. Sometimes I can reach it and sometimes I can’t. Usually not.

^On MF and TTD, the seatbelt is the determination of whether the person can ride, as the lapbars have no sensors (there's a video from a Travel Channel type of production a while back showing somebody riding MF with the seats next to him wide open.)

A retracting belt would thus not work well from a safety standpoint compared to Steel Vengeance, where the lapbar sensors determine who can ride and the seatbelts are simply there as secondary restraints (as opposed to also serving as the size restriction.)

I haven't ridden steel vengeance yet. I'll be making my first trip this year next Monday, but I have to say that I'm not a real big fan of the retractable belts. I was at KI a couple of months ago and Beast, Diamondback, etc with those belts, if you are a bigger person, they don't want to retract because your body is wide enough that it keeps them from retracting. I know you're probably safe with the lap bar down but I prefer the adjustable belt you can pull tight.

DRose said:

I haven't ridden steel vengeance yet. I'll be making my first trip this year next Monday, but I have to say that I'm not a real big fan of the retractable belts. I was at KI a couple of months ago and Beast, Diamondback, etc with those belts, if you are a bigger person, they don't want to retract because your body is wide enough that it keeps them from retracting. I know you're probably safe with the lap bar down but I prefer the adjustable belt you can pull tight.

FWIW, I am 6'3" 225 lbs, have no problems with either WT or SV. Only suggestion I have for SV to prevent the lower leg bolster form putting too much pressure on your fibula is to sit down and then your point your toes and raise your heels while the bar is adjusted. Almost like you are walking on your toes. This gives me no discomfort on my lower legs as some riders have reported.

RCMAC said:

There’s even more money to be made with “aspirational sizing” of clothing.

I’ve learned some of those placing tricks myself. In addition to making sure my wallet and belt don’t add unwanted inches, I know on which rides I should sit as far back as possible (Windseeker) or even twist to one side or the other (Monster). I’m not huge. I always fit, but I look for ways to make myself comfortable and not slow down the process for others.
I wish rides like MF and TTD has retractable belts that buckle in from like Steel Vengeance. For me, those two rides sometimes require assistance from an op. The belt fits just fine, but it’s way to the side under the armrest. Sometimes I can reach it and sometimes I can’t. Usually not.

My GF has the same issues on TTD and MF... She's like 5'1" and has short arms, so she can't reach the buckle when seated... She fits if me or the ride op buckle her, but can't buckle herself...

I'm always adding to my bag of tricks. This weekend I figured out that for Gemini and Magnum if I sit to the right side of my larger cousin I had more leverage to give the seatbelt a good yank than she had herself so new strategy...when possible have a friend who can help you if you're really close sit to whatever side the seatbelt needs to be pulled to buckle. MF and Dragster are arranged so that this can't be done the way I described. She was with a different family member when she had to do the walk of shame on MF so we're not sure if I could have helped her on that one or not. Sometimes it's easier for someone else to squish your fluff than it is for you to do it yourself.

I like the retractable because you can grab it and pull it out all the way while still standing. There’s never any fumbling. Put the two ends together, sit, and buckle. I do this on the PTC’s as well, but it’s harder as the female end is short and way over to the side.
Now if they’d only make footwells to accommodate my 13W’s I’d appreciate it. The Intamins are the worst.

I don't know if my mind is in the gutter, but that post ^ sounded so dirty. LOL.

I know. I heard it too.

(Pushes send)