Riding a roller coaster

[Panic Button]

Why do people hold their arms up when riding a roller coaster?

[Barmaid]

I don't, I hang on for dear life making my knuckles white. Hence a "white knuckle ride".

Although I try to avoid them wherever possible!!!!!

[admarlow]

because it makes it more scarey as you feel like u mighg fall out as you are not holding on to anything!

[Panic Button]

I rode Shockwave the other day.

I agree with James T. about it.

Why on earth would you want to make it MORE scary?

[admarlow]

try it , it really makes a big difference

[JonnyBoy12]

I think it is a macho thing, Panic Button, as if to say "Look at me how hard I am not holding on". Yes, it does feel more scary too, as you get shaken around more, as your hands are not stopping you move around. I won 2 ticket to Drayton Manor in a competition the other week, so if any of you fellow ABers want to join me there one day feel free to email me in the Sports Bank.

I will have to tell everyone here whether you held on or not though!

[boogieboogie]

It's definately a exhibition of bravery.
but I would say loonecy

[Ice.Maiden]

It takes me all my time to stay in the seat as it is, without raising my arms. I nearly DID come out of one once. I had to slide right down and hang on for dear life. Hate the things.

[beso]

Roller coaster experiences depend very much on the particular roller coaster. They come in a wide range of ride styles. Personally I don't like the ones that do sudden direction changes or shake the passenger.

IceMaiden has been on a bad one. When they are designed properly you don't feel like you are going to fall out. The radius of the curves and the roller coaster speed are normally taken into account to keep the G forces in the right direction. With modern computer aided engineering there is no excuse for bad roller coaster desigh.

For people who have had a bad experience you can rediscover the joy again on the right machinery. For this there is none better than the Seaworld Corkscrew on the Gold Coast, Australia. It is completely smooth and you never feel like you are going to fall out.

Incidentally, on a large roller coaster with a "train" of cars the ride varies depending on where you sit. Every car must travel at the same speed yet they are in different parts of the rail with different curvatures. The squeamish should take the middle car because it is generally the smoothest ride with the optimum G forces.

[joggerjayne]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy

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Woooooo Hooooooooooooooooooo

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy

WaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Ahhhh.

staggers off