Wet belts and slack

After bemoaning the belt issue/slack rule for much of the early part of this CP season, I've been pleasantly surprised to find that I have yet to be thrown off the ride for not "fitting."

Since the 200 season, I've been on MF in cold, wind, and rain. This past Friday night was my first experience with all three at once. It was invigorating, in a steel-pellet-in-the-forehead way. But I digress.

At any rate, I found latching the belt (last seat on yellow train) somewhat difficult and achieving the slack VERY DIFFICULT. I made it, although I suspect that the ride op may have been a bit generous on the slack issue. When I've been on MF during ideal weather conditions, getting the slack has just required some vigorous tugging on the loop. Friday night, I found that all the tugging in the world was yielding minimal success. The belt was soaked.

The Intamin belts on MF and TTD aren't the easiest to tighten in the first place, but under Friday's conditions, it seemed especially tough.

Anyone else have this type of problem?

P.S.: For what it's worth, I KNOW this issue has been beaten to death here, but with the changing weather conditions, it seemed like a legitimate question.

When the belt thing came up, They said MF would have a tighter fit. And it is very tight fit.

Even to me getting the belt to get the one inch rule was not easy. But when you have a very strong and well fit rideing partner, it is a litttle easy with him pulling on the belt sideways to get it tighter.

I've nerver had the belts wet like that before so I can't coment on that. To me the easyest belt to tighten is Magnum. It has very long belt to make it easy to tighen with no problem.

The cause of that would prolly be the cold. When its cold all the little sciemntific thingys get closer toogether and make everything a little smaller and tighter. When its warmer its prolly easier. Im pretty sure im on track, but correct me if im wrong.

Yesterday (10/16/04), fastening the belts was a real problem for a lot of people, some of which was due to the fact that everyone was wearing thick coats. The ops were very helpful and were fastening belts for people. The ops also seemed to be a little more generous about the slack rule because of this.

Interesting.

*begins praying about this Sunday* Hehe. ;)

Boatman said:

Friday night, I found that all the tugging in the world was yielding minimal success. The belt was soaked.

The Intamin belts on MF and TTD aren't the easiest to tighten in the first place, but under Friday's conditions, it seemed especially tough.

Do you think that it was because the belts were soaked or because you might have been wearing more clothing then normal due to the colder and wetter conditions? I did not seem to have any problemes getting the slack out of the wet belts. I actually thought that the belts were eaiser to pull with them being wet. I did notice that I got less slack do to the extra clothes that I was wearing. *** Edited 10/18/2004 8:46:55 PM UTC by Tony***

Maybe I'll see you again, The Real CP. I'm there this weekend, too (Lighthouse Point).

MrScott

Intamin belts suck when wet...plain and simple.

I had to deal with tightening and loosening them all summer. Pulling slack out can be difficult even when simply securing an empty seat.

Large coats and/or warmer clothing definitely does not help the situation, though.

Tony:

I made it a point NOT to wear more clothing in the area of my body (my lap) that the belt goes across. So I really think it was the wet and cold. Had I been wearing long johns underneath, then I might consider that a possibility. But knowing the limitations, I always wear thin, light-weight pants (sucks when it's cold) to help ensure I'll fit in the ride and get the slack.

Boatman said:

I made it a point NOT to wear more clothing in the area of my body (my lap) that the belt goes across.

Whoa, seriously misread that the first time! Haha - I saw that as "...ANYMORE clothing in the area of my body..." Whoops. ;)

MrScott - CPLady (OldCPer - I forget who she is on which site) and I are going to head to MF first on Sunday during the JCC in the hopes that I can ride with minimal people in the station to stare at me if I can't. Heh. See you there maybe!

I'll keep an eye out for you, TheRealCP. Looking at the Sandusky forecast has me hopefull for light crowds...;)

MrScott

PS: I'll be there with my brother, sister in-law and 2 nieces. We've got a cabin this time at Lighthouse Point. Never stayed in a cabin--always have opted for the cottages.

Have fun! I've never stayed in either! Hahaha.

You trying checking those sealbelts when people wear 6 layers of clothes and your hands are freezing/numb. Not too much fun.

I thought the green train gave the most slack?

Whya needed to bring this thread back to post that I don't know.

Yeah, CPfan200. The green train probably does give the best slack. Why don't you sit in there for awhile and find out?