Here is one of the most heavily criticized coasters on the planet. It has an interesting layout, tall drops, and many twists and turns. So why is it criticized? Six Flags has supposedly turned one of the world's once best wooden coasters into only a shadow of its former self. For years I denied these accusations and actually found this classic woodie to deliver quite a thrilling and glass-smooth ride. However, my recent rides on this Cobb twister have tarnished my love for this wooden coaster and made me believe Six Flags’ butchering of this coaster.
Unfortunately I was too short to ride the Riverside Cyclone back in its heyday, but despite this, I could easily tell that Six Flags has tampered with the ride even without riding Riverside’s once great coaster. The most noticeable sign is the reprofiling of the first drop (the original track is still visible within the structure and can be seen if one looks closely enough) and the addition of many trims that really reduce the ride's speed at times to almost a crawl.
The ride experience begins with a long walk through the ride's structure to the station. Along the way are descriptions of some of the chain's current and former wooden coasters such as the Comet, Rattler, and Colossus. Once reaching the station, riders can generally select any seat they choose, but occasionally I have had ops that unfortunately assign seats for you. Generally lines aren't too bad for this (20 minutes at most), but they can get long due to common one train operations and the ride’s long duration mixed in with slow loading. Of all the seats, I honestly have no preference since the back is much wilder, but also quite uncomfortable, while the front simply lacks intensity, but is much more tolerable.
Upon dispatch, riders begin with a slow climb up the ride's lift hill. The views on the way up are quite good of the entire park and Agawam. But the views don't last forever as I was soon treated to a very steep and intense first drop that gave very abrupt ejector air. In fact, the air is possibly too abrupt for my tastes as with all of the major ejector air experienced in the back, it’s actually quite painful, especially when combined with the constant jackhammering that occurs simultaneously. Following that is a fast, but bumpy turn followed by another good-sized drop that caused my pelvis to beg for mercy.
Afterwards comes the second turnaround, which sadly is taken at a snail’s pace thanks to a killer trim brake. Following the turnaround comes the ride's largest drop that again gives some very abrupt but pain-inducing ejector air for back seat riders followed by the ride's third turnaround. This one is also taken far too slowly again thanks to a trim brake, but front seat riders do get one of the most powerful bursts of ejector air I’ve experienced on any coaster.
Commencing the second half of Cyclone is my favorite part of the ride, a very sudden drop through the structure that gives some incredible ejector air for back seat riders, as not only does it literally send riders airborn, but it also is the only one of the major drops that doesn’t have me routinely screaming in pain. Following that is yet another turnaround, where unfortunately the ride just loses most of its speed thanks to yet another trim brake, resulting in the final few hills being far too slow to give the great air they look capable of. All that I get are some weak laterals and plenty of jackhammering.
Way to go Six Flags! You’ve turned what once was one of the best wooden coasters anywhere into a shade of its former self and one of the most uncomfortable and lackluster wooden coasters I’ve ever been on. The great ejector air really makes the ride memorable, but it’s also the ride’s downfall because of the pain that it causes in collaboration with the dreaded jackhammering. Of SFNE’s two wooden coasters, Thunderbolt is far and away the better and more enjoyable of the two for so many reasons. Do I recommend it? Certainly, just I definitely recommend the front over the back since it is much more comfortable. If you so choose the back, be prepared for a ride stuffed with powerful ejector air and pain. That being said, the Cyclone is a very intense woodie for all the wrong reasons- incredibly painful ejector air and horrid jackhammering. I just can’t help but imagine what this must have been like before all the modifications.
|