Maverick Riding Technique

^ I think lab bars if they were the right type would be more than sufficient.

^^ And yet Flight of Fear still needs a riding technique of you want to enjoy it.

Ryan

Lap bar only would cause the same conversations that surround MF and TTD. Who's too fat, who's not, why do we need seat belts, is it fair, blah blah blah. Not to mention that checking lap bars and assisting everyone with the required seat belt would increase load time in the station, decreasing capacity, then we'd really hear the crying. So, no. The line gets long enough even with the easy in/easy out we enjoy now.

I noticed Maverick seemed a little head bangy this year, too. Out of experience, I'm one to stick my neck out on OTSR rides, but it didnt seem to help. For some reason the left to right transitions seem more abrupt than in years past. Maybe it's a little faster these days. At any rate, it's still a comfortable, rockin' ride.

I do agree with arw84 that it's a shame we even need to discuss riding techniques at all.

tedfuzz said:
^ I've always wanted that as well, but do you think lapbars would be sufficient on the 95 degree drop?

They already are. Maverick's OTSR's are not holding you in, the bar is, and it's on your lap.

From the first time i rode Maverick i have ridden it with hands up high! Yea i end up with bruises but who cares! I love Maverick and will continue to ride it that way until my shoulders fall off!

I love my hands held high on Maverick too! Maverick is a great ride!

I'm an advocate of the lean forward technique. The OTS restraints give me bad smacks to the middle of my ears otherwise. I suppose one's problem areas depend upon body dimensions.

Have you seen Flamingo Lands's Mumbo Jumbo? That's the new sit-down with a > 90 degree drop, some inversions and extreme changes of attitude - a profile similar to Mav. A lap bar and pair of thickly-padded shoulder/neck retraints appear rather comfortable.

http://www.flamingoland.co.uk/park/news.html

Trust me, those S&S restraints would not be comfortable on Maverick. Go to Indiana Beach and ride Steel Hawg if you don't believe me... it uses the same restraints.

After riding Maverick for the first time during Coastermania this year, I have to say the restraint killed the ride for me. I like the quick transitions and out of control feeling, but it was hardly enjoyable with the pointless over the shoulder portion of the restraint. Although that part of the restraint was annoying, the lap bar was excruciating for me by the end of the ride. I tried a few different riding techniques, but I never got to a point that was anywhere near comfortable.

I'm not a large person, 5'9" and 125lbs, so the lap bar was crushing my upper thighs, but still wasn't touching my stomach.
If the restraint gave just one more inch between the seat and lap bar, it would have been fine. After my fourth try, I sat on the brake run in pain before we came back to the station, and gave up. I know I don't share the popular opinion, but my body type just doesn't work well with the 'new' Intamin restraints. I have never had a problem with any restraints before (except the Arrow horsecollars as a child, although I'm tall enough for them now).

Where's the waaaaaahmbulance when we need it?

It's on it's way.....it's being held up at another topic.:)

Actually I somewhat agree with Kirk. While the compression IS uncomfortable, I've learned to NOT ride it over and over and over so as to prolong the pain and suffering. 12 rides in a row resulting in bruised thighs is not cheese and crackers with me.

Wouldn't a simple fix to the head/ear banging problem be to install a inch or two of softer, more compressible material on the inside of the OTSR so you aren't smacking against such a hard surface?

The problem, presumably, would be that softer material would bring with it reduced durability.

Personally, I think people are just wusses. :)

Hence my calling for the waaaaaahmbulance. :)

e x i t english said:
Where's the waaaaaahmbulance when we need it?

See Avatar. ---->

Oh. Good. It's here. Now, all of you whiners can stop. :)

I know what you mean about the end of the ride. I'm 5'10" 125 lbs and those restraints are literally crushing my legs after the ride. I've tried holding it up above my legs, but it ends up pushing itself down throughout the ride.

The worst part I think is coming out of the launch tunnel. Other than that though if you just keep your head back it's not too bad.

The first time I rode Maverick the OTSR's killed the whole ride for me, I loved the insane amount of airtime but I just hit my head so much. The 2nd time I rode Maverick I kept my head and neck stiff on the head rest and it was a incredible ride.

Ok fine, I'm a whiner, whatever.

I found holding my head back helped, the headrest held it in place. Ya, my neck banged a few times, but it wasn't awful, the lap bar is what made it less enjoyable.

I've seen some Intamin rides with a 'newer' restrain, where the inside of the shoulder portion is wider, which probably helps. I have also seen (I apologize I don't remember which coaster) pictures of an even newer revision in which Intamin was using a B&M flyer-esque system with the softer, conforming over the shoulder restraint, which sits against the upper body, allowing your head to be free. The trade off is less upper body freedom, but no head banging.

It will be interesting to see how much the new Vekoma restraints on Carolina Cobra improve the Boomerang experience. I know Maverick is not rough like a Boomerang is, but those restraints seem to be a decent compromise between lapbars and head banging OTSR's.

And I might whine about the restraints, but Maverick is nice ride, and I think the corkscrews that make up the horseshoe roll are probably some of the best designed inversions, next to a B&M zero-G roll.

–Kirk

One tip is go with the flow of the ride, relax your body don't ride tensed up. Also it severely helps to try to hold your head out so the head banging effect doesn't happen. (I have learned that technique to deal with Corkscrew and Mantis head banging issues.)

As on my recent trip this year with my 11 year old nephew has now learned to enjoy Corkscrew much better. As his past trips on it were not a pleasant one and told him about the head position, now he loves it and really enjoys it.
Hope this helps out.