What Makes a Rough Ride Rough?

[Jake]

(I think we had this thread on the old forums - but I can't remember exactly.)

So what is it that makes a rough ride rough? What makes X so much rougher this year, than it was in 2001? Some people blame poor maintenance on these kinds of things. Perhaps an earthquake, and accident, you name it, its on the list. What do you guys think makes a rough ride rough? Post, discuss, whatever.

[Nate]

Steel coasters I think it largely has to do with the wheel assembly's. Wood coasters has to do more with the track gaging and the actual wood underneath the steel strips.

[Thrill Reconnoiter]

About coasters being rough from the start:
Bad engineering. Plain and simple.

About coasters getting rough:
In a wooden coaster, namely bad maintenance on the structure and trackwork...resulting in offsetting gauges at some sections and blemishes among track shaping as the structure fatigues and 'settles' over time.

On a steel coaster, the trains maintenance. Bad maintenance on the wheel bogies-not changing out the wheels soon enough, running a bad combination [of compounds], not servicing them frequently (rotation, lubrication, etc), etc.

[ArrowOwnzU]

Rollercoasters get rough because gremlins come out and bite the track.

[jolash]

Weren't older steel coaster originally welded together? That would make quite a tremor.


And as said before, wheel assemblies determine how rough a ride will be. I believe the Millennium Flyers actually have some form of suspension.

[sirloin]

Wheel assemblies are part of it, but the track has a lot to do with it sometimes, though that mainly applies to wooden coasters.

Alot of it, however, is also how well kept the track is, and even the style of train that rides on the track. For instance, Millennium Flyers have an advantage since every row has its own wheel assembly. This allows the train to track better than, say, a PTC two-bench train where only every other row has a set of wheels.

Going along with that, how well a train rides will also effect the wear and tear on the track itself. Mind you, there are manufacturing methods that can also decrease roughness (see Plug-'n-Play wooden coasters). However, if you were to try and slap the old Wildcat trains on Lightning Racer, or even, heaven forbid, three-bench PTC's, Lightning Racer would be one of the most battersome wooden coasters out there.

Other aspects affecting roughness could be particular maneuvers (see the turn into the midcourse brakes on KI's Vortex).

Also, as Ryan said, wheel compounds are a factor. If I'm quoting Ryan correctly, nylon wheels don't ride quite as smooth as polyurethane wheels do.

Keep in mind, I've only listed some of the factors. In many cases, good upkeep and maintenance is enough to combat most forms of roughness. Mind you, some rides weren't built well from the start and will likely suffer from roughness forever, but for the most part, roughness is easily avoidable.

[Dan]

A lot of it, I believe, has to do with the fit of the wheels. We all know B&M wheels fit perfectly with the track. We also all know that X is not a very smooth ride. That is, in part, because the wheels are so loose, and free to flop around as much as they please:

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8554/sfmm4507120ht8.jpg

Look at the wheel marks. They are all over the place! And look at these:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6032/52607138ep7.jpg

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/4954/61607168hc9.jpg

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2484/52607040or2.jpg

All nice, smooth marks. Also smooth rides. Pattern anyone?

[apsterling]

SLC's only ride the track occasionally, from what I can tell. That's why they have MASSIVE shuddering. Nice example pics. ;)

[Voyage100]

Seems like what makes the coaster ride rough has something to do with the fit of the wheels. I got so stunned, as I saw there are smooth wheel marks on every B&M and Intamin tracks.

[rollercoasterfreek]

I think it's the wooden rides and where the wheel tracks are that make a ride rough. I was really angry when I rode the "Zonga" ride when it was transferred to SFDK briefly. That final unbanked turn on Kong also makes the ride rough for me.

[SnooSnoo]

If you were built by Vekoma.

Pretty much.

[R.C.]

I was really angry when I rode the "Zonga" ride when it was transferred to SFDK briefly. That final unbanked turn on Kong also makes the ride rough for me.

I really didn't mind Zonga, it was one of my favorite rides at the time. I do agree with you about Kong's turn into the station, it is really rough.

[rollercoasterfreek]

Zonga gave me lower back pain when I was on it. It was also annoying that during the lift, it is ridiculously loud. Demon at Great America has those two corkscrews that ruin the neck as well.

[tycooner55]

If your hands are numb at the end of the ride from holding on to the vibrating grab handle.

*cough* Gwazi *cough*

[Jake]

When I created this I was thinking of getting answers more on the technical side of things, not "Zonga made my ears bleed!!!!!". This thread has run its course.

*Locked*