Worried about riding Mantis

[MASH80554077]

Im going to ride Mantis at Cedar Point in a week and I am a little apprehensive about riding Mantis. Is riding a stand up really that different than anything else. I hear the seats can put pressure in some....un comfortable places. i Love B&Ms but Im just worried about stand ups. Is it true people black out more on them. Is it also true that you can fall otu of your seat and restrain if you black out. Can anyone tell me about the safety records about stand ups?

 

 

 

Im sorry if this was posted already but I searched it and it came up negative.

[haux]

You can't fall out of the seat. You're really pretty well restrained, so get that idea out of your head.

 

The best way to ride any stand-up coaster is to give a little bit of space between "the boys" and the seat. Try to get your legs straight so you don't drop down when the G's hit. Mantis has some pretty high G's, but you don't have to worry about blacking out. Millennium Force gives me tunnel vision. Mantis is just bland.

 

The worst thing you have to worry about on Mantis is banging your head. For the best ride, get in one of the middle two seats, and keep your head back.

 

It's a boring coaster. You won't black out and fall out after you slam your nuts into the seat. You'll be fine.

[ebl]

Riddler's Revenge at SFMM has some pretty strong forces in some parts. But your advice about space between the "family jewels" and the seat is the best for a B&M standup. I don't know about the TOGO ones, as I've never ridden one.

 

Eric

[Team Thriller]

Think about how many people a day ride standup coasters and nothing happens.

 

When I rode Riddlers Revenge, I forgot I was standing. Your so into the ride you just don't think about it anymore.

Yes, it is easier to get tunnel vision on standup's as sitting blocks the blood from rushing down to your feet. And when your standing, the blockade isn't there, so the blood rushes out of your head.

But on Mantis, I've heard it doesn't happen due to the weak positive Ge Force.

 

 

--James

[yankees15]

^I have heard the opposite about Mantis. I have heard that it has very strong G-forces and that your legs can become very tired from all the stress. I could be wrong since I have never ridden Mantis, but that is what I have read from multiple reports.

[Moose]

"Uncomfortable areas"

 

Well, at least for me, the uncomfortable areas on standup coasters end up being my knees. The extra g's multiplying my body weight does not really bode well for my already bad knees. Personally I've never had any pain in the crotchal area, but then again, it could have been that the knee pain just over shadowed it.

[Rollerman87]

Rule 1: No baggy clothes. I love Riddler's Revenge (the better stand up), but when I where baggy pants, my boys hurt a bit.

 

Rule 2: Especially on the first ride, don't lock it all the way up. Have it more in a sitting position, then it'll have less toll on you legs. But hey, if you're up to it, put some space there (as mentioned several times), only problem will be, your legs turn to jello.

 

Rule 3: Head against headrest. It's an ok ride, but the trims on the first drop make the ride super slow. Of course, dsiclaimer with this rule. I have a lopsided head, and the headrests for Mantis bulge out slightly, so my head hurt because of riding it.

 

Have fun. And, honestly, no one has said it, but it's kinda pathetic that you're going to Cedar Point and are worried about Mantis. TTD and Maverick should be the real worries

[RCFreak]

Just remember they do actually adjust the heights of the seats at Cedar Point (or at least they did...) so don't leave it too low or they may raise it higher then you would like.

 

My trick is to stand-up with my knees completely straight in the station and pull the seat up all the way up, then slightly bend your knees. This should bring the seat down just a bit and wait until the seats lock then push it down to lock it in place. Keep your knees slightly bent (but not to the point where you are more sitting then standing, again they should be checking for this sort of thing and will re-adjust your seat height) then stand up straight once you're on the lift. This method should ensure you are still in the proper riding position yet have a bit of room for your boys and not have to be re-adjusted by a ride host. Also, if for whatever reason you do pass out on the ride, this will make sure you stay put until you arrive back into the station.

 

Of course I also have never had my nuts hurt by a stand-up and love Mantis way more then Riddler's so take my advice with a grain of salt from someone who worked the ride.

[MASH80554077]

Ehhh I've been on Storm Runner and Kingda ka.... Launched coasters are old news.

[Rollerman87]

Old... news! That's disgusting. Every accelerator offers a different experience, and every launcher offers a different experience. But think about it, you worried about a B&M, which are probably the safest and the smoothest of the coasters (simply because they don't try and push the envelope in height and speed and what not).

 

Trust me, you'll be fine. If you're boys get a little hurt, oh well. If you pass out, then you've got some med-problems and probably shouldn't be riding the steel beasts in the first place

[MASH80554077]

Well I dont't mean theyre boring ....Well Kingda Ka is... but im just not scared of them. Stand ups are just....intimidating to me.

[Dr. Coasterboy]

Just remember to keep your feet all the way back and flat on the floor...if they're not flat, it will hurt your legs. Then again it really depends on how long your legs are. For some people it's a bad ride, for others it's not. IMO, the ride is pretty fun. In some places it will bang your head around a bit, but just remember to try and enjoy it. Let us know how it all turns out.

[haux]

Be sure to tell us how it was! Have fun. Well, as much fun as you can on Mantis.

[MASH80554077]

^ I sure will.

[Rct3man777]

What happens if you adjust the seat so you're sitting down on the standup?

[haux]

What happens if you adjust the seat so you're sitting down on the standup?

Say goodbye to your nuts. Or they'll just readjust the seats again and make you wait even longer. Don't try this.

[astroworldfan1]

On Georgia Scorcher they let you sit down on it. I would never do it, but it looks kinda cool.

 

-Tatum

[yankees15]

Well I dont't mean theyre boring ....Well Kingda Ka is... but im just not scared of them. Stand ups are just....intimidating to me.

 

I'm just wondering, how can you say Kingda Ka is boring? You go 128 mph! I can't see how that is boring at all!

[Rct3man777]

There's coasters WAY more intense than kingda ka.

[yankees15]

^Yes I realize there are alot of coasters more intense than Kingda Ka but there is nothing boring about a 128 mph launch.

[nannerdw]

The last time I rode Mantis, the ride op made sure everyone's legs were completely straight when the seats locked. I thought this rule was just rude and unnecessary. I just had to wait until they weren't looking and bend my knees a little. Every time I go on Georgia Scorcher, I bend my knees slightly when the seats lock. Don't bend them so much that you are unable to stand up straight during the ride, though. It's not hard to keep yourself off of the seat on those rides as long as you have some space in-between yourself and the seat.

[RexandtheBeast]

We just rode Mantis for the first time on our trip to CP a couple of weeks ago. They do try and make you stand up completely, but I would recommend trying to get a little bend in your knees if possible. Also, the most painful part of the ride to me was the pounding my head and ears took, so I would really recommend keeping your head pressed back into the headrest as much as possible. Have fun!

[nannerdw]

They always tell you to keep your head back against the headrest, but I find it more comfortable to push forward into the restraint on rides with bad headbanging. When you push yourself forward, the restraint prevents your shoulders from moving around. I used this technique on the painful entry into Raptor's brake run, and it kept me from getting my head bashed into the restraint.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Just remember they do actually adjust the heights of the seats at Cedar Point (or at least they did...) so don't leave it too low or they may raise it higher then you would like.

 

My trick is to stand-up with my knees completely straight in the station and pull the seat up all the way up, then slightly bend your knees. This should bring the seat down just a bit and wait until the seats lock then push it down to lock it in place. Keep your knees slightly bent (but not to the point where you are more sitting then standing, again they should be checking for this sort of thing and will re-adjust your seat height) then stand up straight once you're on the lift. This method should ensure you are still in the proper riding position yet have a bit of room for your boys and not have to be re-adjusted by a ride host. Also, if for whatever reason you do pass out on the ride, this will make sure you stay put until you arrive back into the station.

 

Of course I also have never had my nuts hurt by a stand-up and love Mantis way more then Riddler's so take my advice with a grain of salt from someone who worked the ride.

 

I tried that approach on shockwave last year & needless to say I ended up being locked into an uncomfortable position putting undue strain on my knees....fortunately the ops re-adjusted my seat before dispatch because there was NO WAY I was gonna go through the entire ride like that.

 

To the OP:Riding a standup is really not that different from any other coaster,the change in your center of gravity & slightly elevated line of sight caused by the riding position may make you seem like you're higher up than on a normal sit down ride but you will not be in any danger of falling out.

[xeon2k]

I usually don't have a problem riding Mantis once; but after 2 rides, my calves can't take it any more. I've never had issues with my knees or crotch area (it's not that comfortable, but not much worse than a bike ride).

 

I have had the G-Forces cause my leg muscles to cramp up like a charlie horse. That can definitely ruin your day of walking through the large park.

 

Usually one ride is OK for me, if that. Sometimes, i skip the stand-up coasters all together to avoid possible leg / muscle cramps.

 

Good Luck!