Current Events > Are roller coaster restraints safe? Noob to coasters

(+) Yeah! (+)

Went on the Coney Island Cyclone yesterday. I feared that I would pop out of the seat the entirety of the ride. It only has a handle bar at the waist.

Are roller coasters suppose to have you jiggle around up and down/side to side? Is this normal? I am a noob to roller coaster. Pretty skinny dude as well.
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No. They are designed to kill all of the passengers
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The restraints aren't form fitted to every rider, no. They're designed for everyone, and no one in specific (other than height).

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

The restraints aren't form fitted to every rider, no. They're designed for everyone, and no one in specific (other than height).

So it's normal to feel loose? I always worry that me being underweigh would have me pop out of the seat.

Is it dangerous to grip hard on the bar?
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The Cyclone is over 90 years old at this point, so it's not representative of modern coaster design. Even so, a lap bar is sufficient for the low G forces you'll experience. Newer rides, especially steel coasters with inversions, are vastly safer - assuming that you're not an idiot who intentionally evades the restraints to do something "cool" like standing up at the top of the lift hill

CrazyandLazy posted...

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

The restraints aren't form fitted to every rider, no. They're designed for everyone, and no one in specific (other than height).

So it's normal to feel loose? I always worry that me being underweigh would have me pop out of the seat.

Is it dangerous to grip hard on the bar?

Yes, on coasters with a basic lap bar you're going to have some freedom of movement. The goal of the lap bar is to keep you from flying upwards when there's a sharp increase in negative vertical Gs, like when cresting a hill.

No, you're not in danger if you hold on to the bar with a death grip lol

CrazyandLazy posted...

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

The restraints aren't form fitted to every rider, no. They're designed for everyone, and no one in specific (other than height).

So it's normal to feel loose? I always worry that me being underweigh would have me pop out of the seat.

Is it dangerous to grip hard on the bar?

You're fine. You may be skinny enough to climb out of the seat if you try. It's not going to happen accidentally. In fact this is kinda the sweet spot because you won't fly out but you can still climb out if something goes wrong and the coaster gets stalled/trapped.

treewojima posted...

No, you're not in danger if you hold on to the bar with a death grip lol

So it's perfectly safe? I was afraid it might pop out if I had a death grip.

My arms felt sore gripping on the bar. I still can't push away the fear of not gripping during a ride.
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Their promoted safety is the only reason you'll ever catch me riding a roller coaster lol
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RoboLaserGandhi posted...

CrazyandLazy posted...

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

The restraints aren't form fitted to every rider, no. They're designed for everyone, and no one in specific (other than height).

So it's normal to feel loose? I always worry that me being underweigh would have me pop out of the seat.

Is it dangerous to grip hard on the bar?

You're fine. You may be skinny enough to climb out of the seat if you try. It's not going to happen accidentally. In fact this is kinda the sweet spot because you won't fly out but you can still climb out if something goes wrong and the coaster gets stalled/trapped.

ok. I might get the courage to have my palms away from the restraints when I go to Six FLags coming weeks.

Cause gripping on the roller coaster restraint is fucking tiring!!!
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CrazyandLazy posted...

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

CrazyandLazy posted...

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

The restraints aren't form fitted to every rider, no. They're designed for everyone, and no one in specific (other than height).

So it's normal to feel loose? I always worry that me being underweigh would have me pop out of the seat.

Is it dangerous to grip hard on the bar?

You're fine. You may be skinny enough to climb out of the seat if you try. It's not going to happen accidentally. In fact this is kinda the sweet spot because you won't fly out but you can still climb out if something goes wrong and the coaster gets stalled/trapped.

ok. I might get the courage to have my palms away from the restraints when I go to Six FLags coming weeks.

Cause gripping on the roller coaster restraint is fucking tiring!!!

I mean you don't have to have a death grip. Just hold it.

No, have you seen the YouTube vids?
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Wooden coasters feel dangerous by design

Even modern ones with looks typically just use that small lap bar
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RoboLaserGandhi posted...

CrazyandLazy posted...

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

CrazyandLazy posted...

RoboLaserGandhi posted...

The restraints aren't form fitted to every rider, no. They're designed for everyone, and no one in specific (other than height).

So it's normal to feel loose? I always worry that me being underweigh would have me pop out of the seat.

Is it dangerous to grip hard on the bar?

You're fine. You may be skinny enough to climb out of the seat if you try. It's not going to happen accidentally. In fact this is kinda the sweet spot because you won't fly out but you can still climb out if something goes wrong and the coaster gets stalled/trapped.

ok. I might get the courage to have my palms away from the restraints when I go to Six FLags coming weeks.

Cause gripping on the roller coaster restraint is fucking tiring!!!

I mean you don't have to have a death grip. Just hold it.

That Coney Island Cyclone was so fucking scary yesterday. My wife was rocking out of the seat. Like literally popping out and going back down, swaying from side to side. I had to keep her down with my right hand all the while trying to keep myself from rocking up and down as well.

Felt so sore after the ride. Also had bad whiplash. My neck was stiff the entire day. My brain felt like I got smacked on the side of the head. lol.

To anyone, never get on Cyclone if you have back or neck problems.

I do feel back to normal now so it was still a fun ride.
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Nothing is ever perfectly safe, but as long as you meet the height requirement for the ride it is designed to protect you from flying out. It's a mechanical instrument that can break down despite routine maintenance, so there's always a chance (however small) that it will come loose and you will, too.

It shouldn't be a concern when you're riding on a coaster though since it's not likely to occur at all.
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I weight 130. I only fell out of 2 rollercoasters. You're fine
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Hexenherz posted...

Nothing is ever perfectly safe, but as long as you meet the height requirement for the ride it is designed to protect you from flying out. It's a mechanical instrument that can break down despite routine maintenance, so there's always a chance (however small) that it will come loose and you will, too.

It shouldn't be a concern when you're riding on a coaster though since it's not likely to occur at all.

Yeah. I will just use @RoboLaserGandhi tip of just holding on the rail loosely the next time I ride. Gripping just takes the fun out of everything. Plus sore muscles afterwards.

I do praise people that have their hands raised when drops happen on rides. So ballsy. What would happen if the front restraint pop or their slippery pants shimmy them out of the seat. LOL
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Cedar Point is the roller coaster capital of the world. Raptor is my favorite
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If the restraints weren't safe we'd hear about hundreds of people dying every year considering how many millions ride them a year.

Your car ride to the roller coaster was more likely to kill you.
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CrazyandLazy posted...

Hexenherz posted...

Nothing is ever perfectly safe, but as long as you meet the height requirement for the ride it is designed to protect you from flying out. It's a mechanical instrument that can break down despite routine maintenance, so there's always a chance (however small) that it will come loose and you will, too.

It shouldn't be a concern when you're riding on a coaster though since it's not likely to occur at all.

Yeah. I will just use @RoboLaserGandhi tip of just holding on the rail loosely the next time I ride. Gripping just takes the fun out of everything. Plus sore muscles afterwards.

I do praise people that have their hands raised when drops happen on rides. So ballsy. What would happen if the front restraint pop or their slippery pants shimmy them out of the seat. LOL

I feel like if the restraints popped open on a drop you'd probably be screwed even if you were holding on to the bar (maybe).
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Roller coasters are safer than cars.
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With the amount of rollercoaster accidents increasing annually, hell no.

Hexenherz posted...

CrazyandLazy posted...

Hexenherz posted...

Nothing is ever perfectly safe, but as long as you meet the height requirement for the ride it is designed to protect you from flying out. It's a mechanical instrument that can break down despite routine maintenance, so there's always a chance (however small) that it will come loose and you will, too.

It shouldn't be a concern when you're riding on a coaster though since it's not likely to occur at all.

Yeah. I will just use @RoboLaserGandhi tip of just holding on the rail loosely the next time I ride. Gripping just takes the fun out of everything. Plus sore muscles afterwards.

I do praise people that have their hands raised when drops happen on rides. So ballsy. What would happen if the front restraint pop or their slippery pants shimmy them out of the seat. LOL

I feel like if the restraints popped open on a drop you'd probably be screwed even if you were holding on to the bar (maybe).

yikes

anyhow, I am going to Great Adventures tomorrow. Probs.
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