But walk over to just about any roller coaster, and what do you see?
People failing their hands in the air like they're at a hip-hop concert.
Most coasters I've ridden have posted explicit instructions that you should hold the grab bar when riding. Obviously, parks don't want you to fall out (or climb out) of a coaster while riding, and a firm grip on the grad bar helps ensure that you remain in place. One park last year went so far as to explicit ban raised arms - not for safety reasons, but to keep riders from having to endure others' smelly pits. So you've got that reason, too.
Me? I always hold the grab bar. I like to feel the train while I'm riding, to feel part of the track, and holding the grab bar helps me have more physical contact with the coaster. Others prefer the sense of flying free from that track, which is why they put up their arms and try to minimize contact with the train itself.
So now we've got our vote of the week:
Make your case in the comments, please. And have a great weekend!
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Yeah, I know there's plenty of clearance around the track. I've seen the track with the lights on, even. But whenever I ride Space, I'm convinced that the track frame's ready to lop off a body part if I don't stay small.
Because of my height and my long arms, I don't put my arms up on any ride. Oh plus I am a chicken, which probably has more to do with me not putting up my arms than the height issue.
And I get that same feeling on Space Mountain too Robert, although I don't sink down in the seat. It's one of the few coasters I have yet to put my hands up.
On wooden coasters, I usually hold on unless I know personally the ride is smooth, in which case I will raise my hands but not above my head.
~By the way Robert you said they do it as if they where "at a hip-hop concert" I think they look more like there seats just caught fire and they where burning they behind's off. Like they where screaming putting there hands up like: Help me, heeeelp me, my but is burning up!!
On smooth coasters, I just let my arms sit in front of me, and float up and down as they see fit.
On harsh rides, I tend to push myself up with my arms and legs, to take the weight off my back, to minimize any back-related problems. Or I'll just use my legs, in which case I will sometimes hold UNDER the lap bar and pull it up so it doesn't accidentally get pushed down and hold me too tightly in the seat.
I will sometimes throw my arms up right before a tunnel or low-haning obstacle, just because that's when most people pull their arms down.
I'll normally casually place my arms on the restraint. rather than grabbing religiously onto the lap bar.
The whole "hands in the car" rule has been broken for a hundred years. Saying it now only serves to cover the parks butt for insurance and lawsuit purposes.
I go hands up probably about 65-70% of the time. If I'm solo, I'll sometimes drape my arm around the empty seat on a two-across woodie. Sometimes I'll use the grip bar, sometimes rest my hands at my side or in my lap. On El Toro, I'll occasionally pull back on the grip bar..it seems to increase the air time I get..I dunno why, physics is not a strength of mine...hell, it's not ANYTHING of mine! If I'm with a woman, and she'll let me, my arm may be around her shoulders or we'll both do the hands up thing while holding hands, forming a flying "W!" What can I say? I'm a romantic at heart....
Mike
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