BigAl
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Forbidden Journey
The stand-up coaster. Loved by few, hated by many! 
But can this concept not be improved for future rides? That's what we'd like to discuss here.
Earlier today Tom asked me about how, if it could be done, would a company go about redesigning the stand-up. This all came about after a few people were discussing the concept in one of the other topics.
So, how what would you do? I'll just throw a few ideas out there quickly that we were talking about and see where that takes us.
Oh, and please keep in mind we haven't really spent much time thinking about all of this so go easy on what we've already talked about below!
I'll start off with the ride position. On the old models you have to stand over what people describe as a bike seat, and lower the back of the seat with a standard OTSR down over you; some featuring an extra buckle to attach the OTSR to the seat... thing.
This was B&M's answer:
Seen as it was probably the best example, we'll ignore the Intamin and Togo variants, shall we?
One problem with stand-ups is the seat. It gets in the way and doesn't really help much. They're known to cause pain, so why not just take them out? Or maybe replace them?
Replace them with what?
Well this is where we got onto the angle of the riding position. We want to be as comfortable as possible on coasters, so consider a stand-up with slightly angled seats to rest in. Instead of being completely stood up, you ride along leaning back into the seat slightly which means some of the weight is taken off your legs.
Next is the shape of the seat and what it could be made from. I'm sure most people know about them, or have at least used them at some point. They're materials that change in state when stimulated in some way (i.e heat, stress, light). Well why not consider using them in a roller coaster seat?
Would it not be possible to create a seat back which utilises something like memory foam? Before anyone says, memory foam is a durable material and when it's covered it's a very effective cushion (hence why it was designed and used for use in space). Similar kinds of shape memory materials are used in all sorts of things, from car seats to bike seats too...
Imagine a seat back which is set in so that you are going along being more or less hugged by the seat. I don't mean as in being sunk deep down into the seat, just enough so that you back is being cupped. Then add in the shape memory material under a few layers of regular foam and a final layer of rubber, and the seat is able to change shape to fit a wide variety of builds but is still durable and waterproof.
Then factor in the angled riding position and you'd effectively be resting into the seat rather than being propped against it, straddling a rather annoying bike seat... thing. These seats would allow for a custom fit, rather than the current one size fits all seat.
This could be expensive, but compared to how much coasters cost in general, perhaps it might not be such a crazy idea? Or maybe it is, I don't know.
Then we got onto the restraints. Since B&M released their late 80's design for the stand-up, restraints have come along way, with all sorts of different things available to keep riders in-place.
Tom suggested keeping the riders lower leg strapped in with something similar to the clamp things used on flying coasters. Being held in by your leg would keep riders closely against the soft seat backs and less movement may also help. Obviously these clamps may have to have a certain degree of freedom, so the insides could again be lined with a layer of foam-coated rubber or whatever.
Then we have your upper body to keep in-place. Air and Swarm both feature vests, so why not use something similar on a new stand-up design? And instead of the bulky OTSR fitted to the back of the seat with needs the whole thing to be lifted up and down, keep it simple by having just the OTSR being lifted with the mechanism set inside the frame behind the seats.
But the OTSR can't remain the same either, because we loose count of the number of people that complain of headbanging on such rides. So featuring a Swarm style OTSR with wider bars away from the riders head not only means less headbanging but also a more open view. Factor this in with the slight angle of the seats and riders may get a much better view.
But even Swarm's restraints don't please everyone with many complaining about a tightening sensation as the ride progresses. Why not set the OTSR out from the vest to give riders a greater degree of freedom, rather than simply being pinned back? If there's a slightly bigger gap between the vest and the OTSR then the vest can slow and reduce movement without the rider being pressed back further by the OTSR being right against them.
And if that isn't the best solution, Tom also suggested something like an improved version of the restraints featured on Thorpe's Slammer. Some old Schwarzkopf coasters feature similar restraints:
Yes, Slammer gets flack for its restraints crushing down, but surely this idea can be improved? I haven't been on any rides with this kind of restraint so I'd quite like to know from others how, if it'd be at all possible, could this method of holding back the rider be improved?
Finally, elements. Tim talked about the riding position being under-utilised on current stand-up coasters. What kinds of elements would you all consider if you were given the task of designing a new stand-up ride?
Once again, please don't rip this post and some of the ideas suggested to shreds. We haven't really spent long talking about all of this, so creative and helpful input would be much appreciated.
But can this concept not be improved for future rides? That's what we'd like to discuss here.
Earlier today Tom asked me about how, if it could be done, would a company go about redesigning the stand-up. This all came about after a few people were discussing the concept in one of the other topics.
So, how what would you do? I'll just throw a few ideas out there quickly that we were talking about and see where that takes us.
Oh, and please keep in mind we haven't really spent much time thinking about all of this so go easy on what we've already talked about below!
I'll start off with the ride position. On the old models you have to stand over what people describe as a bike seat, and lower the back of the seat with a standard OTSR down over you; some featuring an extra buckle to attach the OTSR to the seat... thing.
This was B&M's answer:
Seen as it was probably the best example, we'll ignore the Intamin and Togo variants, shall we?
One problem with stand-ups is the seat. It gets in the way and doesn't really help much. They're known to cause pain, so why not just take them out? Or maybe replace them?
Replace them with what?
Well this is where we got onto the angle of the riding position. We want to be as comfortable as possible on coasters, so consider a stand-up with slightly angled seats to rest in. Instead of being completely stood up, you ride along leaning back into the seat slightly which means some of the weight is taken off your legs.
Next is the shape of the seat and what it could be made from. I'm sure most people know about them, or have at least used them at some point. They're materials that change in state when stimulated in some way (i.e heat, stress, light). Well why not consider using them in a roller coaster seat?
Would it not be possible to create a seat back which utilises something like memory foam? Before anyone says, memory foam is a durable material and when it's covered it's a very effective cushion (hence why it was designed and used for use in space). Similar kinds of shape memory materials are used in all sorts of things, from car seats to bike seats too...
Imagine a seat back which is set in so that you are going along being more or less hugged by the seat. I don't mean as in being sunk deep down into the seat, just enough so that you back is being cupped. Then add in the shape memory material under a few layers of regular foam and a final layer of rubber, and the seat is able to change shape to fit a wide variety of builds but is still durable and waterproof.
Then factor in the angled riding position and you'd effectively be resting into the seat rather than being propped against it, straddling a rather annoying bike seat... thing.
These seats would allow for a custom fit, rather than the current one size fits all seat.This could be expensive, but compared to how much coasters cost in general, perhaps it might not be such a crazy idea? Or maybe it is, I don't know.
Then we got onto the restraints. Since B&M released their late 80's design for the stand-up, restraints have come along way, with all sorts of different things available to keep riders in-place.
Tom suggested keeping the riders lower leg strapped in with something similar to the clamp things used on flying coasters. Being held in by your leg would keep riders closely against the soft seat backs and less movement may also help. Obviously these clamps may have to have a certain degree of freedom, so the insides could again be lined with a layer of foam-coated rubber or whatever.
Then we have your upper body to keep in-place. Air and Swarm both feature vests, so why not use something similar on a new stand-up design? And instead of the bulky OTSR fitted to the back of the seat with needs the whole thing to be lifted up and down, keep it simple by having just the OTSR being lifted with the mechanism set inside the frame behind the seats.
But the OTSR can't remain the same either, because we loose count of the number of people that complain of headbanging on such rides. So featuring a Swarm style OTSR with wider bars away from the riders head not only means less headbanging but also a more open view. Factor this in with the slight angle of the seats and riders may get a much better view.
But even Swarm's restraints don't please everyone with many complaining about a tightening sensation as the ride progresses. Why not set the OTSR out from the vest to give riders a greater degree of freedom, rather than simply being pinned back? If there's a slightly bigger gap between the vest and the OTSR then the vest can slow and reduce movement without the rider being pressed back further by the OTSR being right against them.
And if that isn't the best solution, Tom also suggested something like an improved version of the restraints featured on Thorpe's Slammer. Some old Schwarzkopf coasters feature similar restraints:
Yes, Slammer gets flack for its restraints crushing down, but surely this idea can be improved? I haven't been on any rides with this kind of restraint so I'd quite like to know from others how, if it'd be at all possible, could this method of holding back the rider be improved?
Finally, elements. Tim talked about the riding position being under-utilised on current stand-up coasters. What kinds of elements would you all consider if you were given the task of designing a new stand-up ride?
Once again, please don't rip this post and some of the ideas suggested to shreds. We haven't really spent long talking about all of this, so creative and helpful input would be much appreciated.
