Seats

Is it the S&S coasters that have the OTSRs that push downward? I'm not sure why you can't pull an OTSR down over your chest, and then push straight down on it so the actual shoulder part rests ON your shoulder. Then the restraint would be perfect height for each person. I guess something like what Mantis' seats do - but with the restraint instead.

I will agree that the OTSR seems very open. I was shocked when I would see some kids come back into the station who were right near the height threshold. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a small child on that ride.

What happened to "Maverick is the smoothest coaster ever" on the day it opened? Now you guys are saying that its uncomfortable (sp) and painfull. Make up your minds! :)

I never claimed it was comfortable. I found it to be very intense, but not unbearable... I got the bruising on my shoulders, and a bit of head/neck banging, but it was nothing that would keep me off the ride.

There is no way they could change it to lapbars only. That would just be asking to have someone thrown from the train. There's too many forces on this ride for lapbars only.

That is exactly what I said to the group of Pointbuzz folks who I hung out with on Monday. Especially in the backseat, that first drop would either eject somebody, or do serious damage to their legs...

No damage would be done with a lapbar unless excessive negative g's are pulled. In fact, you would die of brain hemorrhaging before suffering leg injuries. Pulling -2 g's feel like a thousand needles poking at your brain. Also it gives a dizziness that is hard to beat that fortunately doesn't last long. Pull around - 3 g's and your dead. Your legs would bruise, but not break. Then again, it's rare that a roller coaster pulls more than -0.5 g's.

On the other hand, Ben is right that lapbars would pose a higher risk of ejecting a larger rider. Something would have to be done to make sure tha lapbars are down far enough for safety's sake.

I just know that people complain of leg bruising and pain on Magnum, and I feel (although I may be wrong) that the negative G's on Maverick are greater than those experienced on Magnum...

I saw about 4 people get turned down when I went Monday.

Magnum also has ancient metal lap bars that are either too tight or too loose on most people. If you install a lap bar that's padded like on MF or TTD, there's no reason it would bruise you. Keep it tight and you're fine. Unless a guest isn't fully restrained like we've seen before, there's no reason you'd fall out with a lap bar.

bholcomb said:
There is no way they could change it to lapbars only. That would just be asking to have someone thrown from the train. There's too many forces on this ride for lapbars only.

That's not even remotely true. Maverick does not restrain you by the shoulders, it restrains you by the thighs. The over the shoulder parts are largely for decoration.