mattnz Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 I am a bit of a 'theme park virgin', and not an overly-experienced rider, but I was wondering how people felt about certain restraints on coasters that don't seem quite 'safe' to me. A good example would be on the OTSR-free Schwarzkopf coasters. I am visiting Six Flags Over Georgia in May, and feel a little nervous about riding a looping coaster - Mind Bender - that has lap bars only! I know lap bars are great for comfort and air time, but what would be the scenario if the coaster stalled in the loop? Also, what's up with the restraints on this Boomerang at Wiener Prater: http://www.rcdb.com/ig1093.htm?picture=21 http://www.rcdb.com/ig1093.htm?picture=22 Now that just doesn't seem right at ALL! EDIT: I changed the wording of the thread to 'insufficient' which is more descriptive of what I meant than 'inefficient'.
mightypotato Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 I was nervous about riding my first looping coaster without OTSR's, too (which was Scorpion @ BGE). However, when I got off it, I realized that the ride was perfectly safe the way it was and that there really wasn't a need for OTSR's. Even in the loop, I felt completely safe.
cpfan101 Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Rides that go upside down with lapbars are perfectly safe. It really just depends on how the restraint presses down on you. For example, OTSR's, while going over your shoulders, put the pressure on your legs so if you get stuck upside down, you are held in by your legs but the OTSR part restrains your upper-body from excessive movement. (IE forwards, backwards, side to side). Now with just the lap bars, it holds you in the exact same way, by your legs except now you can move your upper body. Both are just as safe. With modern coasters that use lap bars and go upside down (Premiers launched bowls), they have your butt sitting below your legs which further restrains any lower body movement one can make during the ride. All in all, they are perfectly safe and so are you so be daring and have a lot of fun! --David
mattnz Posted April 16, 2008 Author Posted April 16, 2008 Thanks I will! I actually love the idea of lap bars. I've been on Arrow coasters with their hideous OTSRs so I'm not surprised there are lots of 'lap bar enthusiasts' on here!
sfotkid Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 I don't know about SFOG's Mind Bender, but SFOT's Shockwave has plenty o' airtime, and I have never felt in danger. Same thing with El Toro, airtime till it hurts, but I feel safe.
mattnz Posted April 16, 2008 Author Posted April 16, 2008 Speaking of which, I don't think these are sufficient on a boomerang: Surely you must end up with a bruised stomache having that pushed into you!
Wes Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Surely you must end up with a bruised stomache having that pushed into you! That's what she said.
WillMontu Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Good to see another Kiwi on TPR. Lapbars on Schwarzkopf are sufficient. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL2jdmPCCT0&feature=related This ride stalled in the loop some time back. Although the ride has been renamed and rethemed (and gone through several different ownerships), it still runs (safely) with just lapbars. Those upstop wheels also help, and they are standard equipment on nearly all coasters. As long as you don't do anything stupid (like standing up) ride restraints are more than sufficient.
niiicolaaah Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Speaking of which, I don't think these are sufficient on a boomerang: Sufficient and comfortable are 2 separate things. Lapbar restraints for looping coasters are safe. If they were statistically unsafe, they would be outlawed. I have only been on 2 looping Schwarzkopf's but on both the forces in the loop keep you completely in your seat. I feel perfectly safe on both, and enjoy the ability to actually move my arms and look to the left and right, unlike with OTSR's.
Carnage Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Sufficient and comfortable are 2 separate things. Case in point the new Superman:Ride of Steel restraints.
mattnz Posted April 16, 2008 Author Posted April 16, 2008 Surely you must end up with a bruised stomache having that pushed into you! That's what she said. Oh! I thought it was my poor English! 'Sufficient' and 'insufficient' sounds a lot better than 'efficient' and 'inefficient'!
DBru Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 I got out of line from fear of no OTSR on Mindbender once. Then again, I was 6... But now I love lap bars only on looping coasters, I feel safe, and free! I'm not too sure what to think about those new Boomerang restraints, though. Not only do they look painful, but would it not be possible for someone to reach down and touch the track while on the ride?
Wes Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Haha oh man, have "that's what she said" jokes not made it to New Zealand yet?
mattnz Posted April 16, 2008 Author Posted April 16, 2008 Haha oh man, have "that's what she said" jokes not made it to New Zealand yet? I don't always understand American.
niiicolaaah Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Ok... now I am TOTALLY confused! Insufficient - inadequate ; especially : lacking adequate power, capacity, or competence; not enough Inefficient - not efficient: as a: not producing the effect intended or desired b: wasteful of time or energy Which do you mean?
mattnz Posted April 16, 2008 Author Posted April 16, 2008 Ok... now I am TOTALLY confused! Insufficient - inadequate ; especially : lacking adequate power, capacity, or competence; not enough Inefficient - not efficient: as a: not producing the effect intended or desired b: wasteful of time or energy Which do you mean? Insufficient as in not actually safe enough. I believe there was an incident involving a boy slipping out of Togo stand-up restraints once.
ginzo Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Case in point the new Superman:Ride of Steel restraints. You mean you don't like getting your shins bashed with metal bars while having the sides of your legs scraped up?
ebl Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 How many people have fallen out of a looping coaster that only had lap bars? Eric
DBru Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 ^I can name more that have fallen out of coasters WITH OTSR's!
csikoth Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Outer Limits at Kings Island had at first over shoulder restraints and couple years ago switched to lapbars, in which i believe made the ride a little less rougher then with the over shoulder restraints. With the shoulder restraints i remember bashing my head on the side quite a few times.
Carnage Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 You mean you don't like getting your shins bashed with metal bars while having the sides of your legs scraped up? Sometimes when I'm in the mood, yes. But never on a roller coaster.
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