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The Smiler - General Discussion

Secret Weapon said:
A number of vloggers have said that The Smiler is running unusually smoothly this year (although I cannot confirm this first-hand).

I heard speculation that the wheels were changed following the constant rollbacks between 2013 and 2015 (similar to Hyperia's wheels being changed last year), and - as a result - the trains ran faster but rougher?

Maybe the park is no longer too concerned about rollbacks and so have decided to prioritise comfort over speed once again?

(The fact that some of Oblivion's old theming has been brought back this year may suggest that the park is willing to reverse some of the changes that were made in 2015 and 2016 ?)
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I don’t personally think it’s running much different to what it always has. It’s the usual smooth up until the final 3 inversions. Think the only noticeable jolts on the ride (exiting the 2nd inversion and also going into the 12th) both feel the same as they always have. It’s certainly never been silk smooth but at the same time I don’t think it’s ever been really rough. Tbf though it’s running better than Nemmy is. You sometimes get a headache coming off Nemmy now if the rattle is bad but I never get a headache from Smiler
 
The only ride I have ever considered rough and given me a headache is Colossus.

The Smiler can admittedly jolt in two or three places but I don’t find it rough.

I think a lot of the feeling of roughness is actually down to the pressure being exerted on the body as opposed to the profiling
 
I always hear people use The Smiler as proof that Gerstlauer rollercoasters are inherently rough, but I think this is a bit unfair, as I suspect the bigger culprit is the layout rather than the steel fabrication itself, caused by the difficulty of trying to cram so many inversions into a tight space; John Wardley mentioned this in his first book, and said that there was a risk of the transitions being rough as there wasn't much track between each inversion - except for the indoor heartline roll, as it was the only inversion that was by itself and thus featured no transitions to or from other elements.
 
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Smiler certainly wasn't smooth for my ride at the weekend.

I find the ride can vary significantly between seats which makes it very difficult to spot long term trends against the background noise
 
Riding The Smiler Towards the end of last season, I felt there was a real headbanger turn. Second half of the ride, on the Western end.

Was so bad I let my kids single rider it while I went to get (disappointing) food…
 
Squiggs said:
Last year I rode it for the first time after quite a long break.

It was definitely smoother than I remembered it... I only came away with two visible bruises. So that's something, right?
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The fact that you could remember it at all is a good sign, as at least you miraculously managed to avoid a concussion !
 
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