B&M question

[thomas2]

Okay so I rode my first 2 B&M's which have this little drop before the first drop (Superman - Attracion de Acero and Batman - La Fuga). Now when you sit in the last row, you have the feeling the train stops when you went down that little hill, but then you're pulled down the big drop. You don't have this feeling in the front rows.

I thought about this but could't find an answer. So how is this feeling created?

[ECZenith]

When you're in the front seat going over this little hump, you're still engaged on the lift, in the back seat, you're basically thrown off of the lift at this point feeling like you have some extra speed. Don't kno whow it would feel like stopping, I feel a difference in ride from front to back seats but not THAT particular feeling you described.

[viking86]

I would guess that you get pushed forward in your seat a little bit when you hit the bottom of the predrop, so it feels like the speed decreases before you start on the real drop.

[Golfie]

I have that feeling, too sometimes on Raging Bull. My guess is that since the radius of the curve leveling out is so small, it seems like your body just rotates and then moves forward.

[jamesdillaman]

I knid of know what you're talking about... I think Mantis does the same thing.

 

-James Dillaman

[goleafsgo]

i think the pre-drop thing is a good idea, because otherwise, if you are in the front row, you are like 1/4 or the way down the drop already before the back of the train is off the lift hill.

[weeow]

I've never had that stopping feeling but I love the little drop! It's my favorite thing ever! Well maybe not ever but it's right up there with oxygen!

[Rollerholden]

Yeah on Medusa at SFMW when it goes down that little dip, I usually notice it feels like it stops because my body gets jerked forward...but at least it allows nice airtime down the drop. And when I say "my body gets jerked forward" I don't mean it hurts or is a bad thing.

[thomas2]

I think that the combination of higher speed and the radius of the drop make you go forward and kinda give the impression of slowing down a bit.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has this feeling

[pvcoasterguy]

All their coasters with that feature have great backseat airtime on the first drop. Especially Raging Bull, which has an absolutely amazing drop in the back seat.

[Rollerholden]

^ If it's a straight drop. The ones that turn don't really have airtime.

[okinawaboy11]

Well, It could be an added block section. Because I know Raging Bull's little dip has a brake on the little dip. Or It couldn't

 

Colin "It could be a possibility" Fischer.

[SKULLY]

The little dip is what makes AC and Raging Bull's first drops so amazing among B&M hypers.

[steel]

I think the lack of the pre-drop is one of the few redeeming qualities on Hydra (along with the Jojo roll and the second little hop after the cobra roll). It gives great airtime in the back row. I much prefer B&Ms when they don't have it. Not that it ruins the ride. It works really well on inverts, Raging Bull, and Apollo's Chariot. But you get a more interesting drop in the back without it (again, if it's a straight drop - the lack of it on any invert would be useless).

[Darien Laker]

A lot of older coasters have it too, like some of the Arrows and Vekomas from the seventies and eighties. The main drops are better when they're taken quickly like that, there's no dragging on the lift.

[All Clear]

I'm definitely pro-pre-drop, when it comes to B&Ms.

 

I'm curious, though about the bottom of AC's first drop, the way it totally flattens out (as does the drop in the same area on the return). Is there a reason behind this? And are any other B&M's built this way?

[okinawaboy11]

I'm definitely pro-pre-drop, when it comes to B&Ms.

 

I'm curious, though about the bottom of AC's first drop, the way it totally flattens out (as does the drop in the same area on the return). Is there a reason behind this? And are any other B&M's built this way?

 

I think it's so they could use the River better. Give you that feeling of flying sort of.

[SpartanTS]

^ If it's a straight drop. The ones that turn don't really have airtime.

 

That also depends on the seating. If i'm on a B&M invert that has a drop with a turn, i'll feel some airtime if i'm in the front seat.

[RctInfinity]

This reminds me of the time I went on Montu...I was..I think in the second-last row on it, and the hump went really fast for me. It is because of the front of the train, dragging the rest of the train down.

[Stitch]

Having that small part of track after the lift drasticly lowers the amount of strain put on the lift chain ... due to the cars in the back on the lift.

[gtaylor]

I've always been partial to the hump, helix, drop combo a la Great Bear.

[matteocrepaldi]

I had that feeling too on KATUN.

In the very back you do the predrop faster than in the other seats and then you slow down a lot befor the drop while in the front you don't feel the difference.

[IwantRevenge]

I alwyas have the feeling on Medusa Back row. The sudden acceleration the stopping then being whipped forward again always makes me sick.

 

On B&Ms the Pre-drop is good for loopers but on there megas it just doesn't seem right. I like how on Nitro you just leave the lift and start speeding down! airitme all the way down!

[okinawaboy11]

I alwyas have the feeling on Medusa Back row. The sudden acceleration the stopping then being whipped forward again always makes me sick.

 

On B&Ms the Pre-drop is good for loopers but on there megas it just doesn't seem right. I like how on Nitro you just leave the lift and start speeding down! airitme all the way down!

 

I really liked the predrop on Raging Bull, it was muy divertido.

[Golfie]

The pre drop isn't just to make it so that the train isn't 1/4 way down the hill before the other part is off the lift, it reduces a LOT of tension on the chain, which means that they'll have to replace it a lot less often.

 

Andrew "Just thought I'd put my two bits of advice in" C.