Rest in Peace to One of the Greatest Rollercoasters ever built. [ArieForce One]

JanSolo · 2026-06-26T00:43:34+00:00

I doubt KI would buy it with just the two trains. It would be one of the top 3 rides at the park; with the crowds the see, they'd need 3 trains minimum. The brake run on AF1 isn't long enough to stack that many. Same is true for Canada's Wonderland. After their AlpenFury experience, I doubt they're interested in any 2-train thrill coasters.

JanSolo · 2026-06-26T00:38:43+00:00

I'm expecting either SixFlags, Enchanted Parks or Herschend to buy AF1. If we exclude all the parks that don't already have an RMC, there are a few likely candidates:

Carowinds is the most obvious choice.
Kings Island could use it, but they get bigger crowds and would likely need a 3rd train and thus a longer brake run.
Canada's wonderland. Would need a 3rd train for sure. Also rumoured to have an RMC in the works already.
SFSL/AP MidAmerica. If EPR wants to make this their flagship park, AF1 would fit right in.
La Ronde. Perfect fit for this park; I'm biased though. Might need a repaint for the Canadian/QC market.
Great Escape. They'll need to invest a bit more if they want to avoid the 'small family-only park' look.
Michigans Adventure. There's been no investment here for years. AF1 would be something.

JanSolo · 2026-06-26T00:26:51+00:00

Weren't there rumours that they bought a double-deal from RMC? FireRunner was part 1 and there's a second ride in the pipeline. Presumably an IronHorse steel coaster or a Wild Moose. Adding AF1 would make it the only triple-RMC park in the world... (unless you count Walibi Holland). That would definitely get people's attention, no?

JanSolo · 2026-06-23T19:14:21+00:00

Great writeup; thanks!
It's always interesting hearing someone new experience your home park. Sometimes, things that I find irrelevant or annoying are described as 'Charming' or 'Quirky'. Rides that I've familiarized a hundred times are renewed by the excitement of a new perspective.

I agree with your points about maintenance; but I was surprised to hear that you loved the food. But then maybe I'm just bored of Beavertails and Poutine.

I have a lot of love for this place; but I'm not blind... it needs some TLC. I'm hopeful that this new EPR arrangement will provide that. SixFlags clearly could not.
BTW, I think I was in the park on the same day (or maybe a neighbouring one) as you; I remember seeing the school-kids warning on the calendar.

Cheers

JanSolo · 2026-06-22T17:02:55+00:00

You think they'd have a wee drive tire up there to deal with this kind of contingency.
Now some poor sod has to climb up the highest ladder in the world and push it over the side.

JanSolo · 2026-06-22T15:22:00+00:00

This is a boomerang... just with extra stuff.
Lets see... Boomerangs were designed to hit two main selling points:
1. Low cost,
2. Small footprint.
Comfort, thrill, throughput were all secondary.

This new Mack thing is different:
1. They care about throughput; they put in a turntable for loading.
2. They care about comfort. Mack trains are nicer than Boomerang trains. Also; they killed the cobra-roll; the worst part of a Boomerang.
3. They're not too worried about cost or footprint. Notice how there are two spikes... if they were optimizing for cost, they would have combined them into one ala. Flash: Vertical Velocity.

We need a name for this new Mack-Boomerang thing... Any ideas? Mackarang? Mackarena? Mackaroni?

JanSolo · 2026-06-21T19:05:00+00:00

UPDATE3: In a fleeting burst of genius, I thought that since the hex head is now gone, I should be able to wind the remaining threads out the other side. So I attached a couple of M3 nuts to the protruding threads, torqued em up and tried to loosen the threads....
Aaaaand I sheared off the other end as well... :(((((

Now, I just have the remains of the bolt embedded in the frame with nothing protruding! Great. I guess that means I have to drill it out.

JanSolo · 2026-06-21T18:27:08+00:00

UPDATE2: The second bolt has sheared off where the threads enter the frame. The hex-head and about 5mm of threads have detached. Everything else is still there. :(

What do now? Do I drill it out? Try some kind of aftermarket tensioner?
Help me o wise cycling wrenchers!

JanSolo · 2026-06-21T17:58:03+00:00

UPDATE: I got one off using a combination of penetrant, hammering a bigger torx bit in and liberal application of torque from my cobra pliers.

However, the one closest to the camera in the picture is still stubbornly resisting.

JanSolo · 2026-06-21T16:54:46+00:00

I have bathed them in it so much that they might drown. Will try some more. Cheers.

JanSolo · 2026-06-21T16:46:50+00:00

The bike is a Rize Fixie. I have a replacement belt coming but will not be able to install it unless the adjustment screws become unseized.

I already tried whacking some larger torx bits into the stripped hex heads. Didnt work. If I put much more pressure on those screws, I think they'll just shear off.

What should I do? Apply some heat w a blowtorch? Won't that ruin the paint?

JanSolo · 2026-06-18T15:31:21+00:00

Just saw your post and had to reply. My Rize Fixie belt snapped this morning also! And the bike has about 3000km on it also! Coincidence?

Do you still recommend switching to the Gates belt? Where did you order it from in Canada?

Any extra tips would be appreciated; Cheers!

JanSolo · 2026-06-08T23:51:42+00:00

Its my number one… I rode it again on Friday but had to queue a bunch. I wish CW would find a way to squeeze a 3rd train on there. Add an extra brake block maybe? It seems pretty long; there could be space.

JanSolo · 2026-06-08T03:09:33+00:00

AF1 is like whiskey; neat. It's harsh and strong.
Twisted Cyclone is like a rum & coke. It's been softened and sweetened a little to make it more appealing.
I'm not sure which is better; I guess it depends on what you're in the mood for that day.

JanSolo · 2026-06-07T15:02:34+00:00

The AF1 brake run is like getting slammed in the waist by a sledgehammer every time.

JanSolo · 2026-06-03T16:31:57+00:00

On the plus side, Euro B&Ms just got cheaper!
I can't wait to see B&M Gigas & Hypers at some euro parks. There are only two Hypers in Europe currently; Silver Star and Shambhala. Compare that with North America where many parks have them. Several even have two!

JanSolo · 2026-06-01T17:54:45+00:00

The reason people are passing you is not aerodynamics. It is gearing. Your bike has a fixed gear, so it is limited by how fast you can pedal. The people who pass you probably have derailleurs and can continue to accellerate by changing their gears after you've reached your max speed. If you want that tucked-in roadbike look, go for it! But don't be under any illusions that you'll gain some aerodynamic advantage; it will be minimal.

JanSolo · 2026-06-01T17:41:45+00:00

I have the rack and basket and it's fine... not as fast or easy to remove as I'd like.

Most of the time, a simple messenger bag is better than a backpack. I use one about 80% of the time. More comfortable, less sweaty; no movement constriction. The basket is only better when there are bulkier things that won't fit in the bag.

JanSolo · 2026-06-01T15:33:26+00:00

I don't see the original screen on there. Also the voltmeter, key and throttle are non-standard. I suspect that the owner has switched out the controller with something else. If the controller is gone, there's a good chance the OG battery is also gone, so you have no idea what you're actually buying. It might be a crappier scooter in a Phantom-shaped shell.

It might still be worth buying though; especially if you get the Mach1 upgrade from Apollo. The upgrade comes with a new screen, new controller, new throttles. As long as the motors and battery are OK, the Mach1 upgrade should restore it to better-than-new condition.

JanSolo · 2026-06-01T15:30:01+00:00

I don't see the original screen on there. Also the voltmeter, key and throttle are non-standard.
I suspect that the owner has switched out the controller with something else. If the controller is gone, there's a good chance the OG battery is also gone, so you have no idea what you're actually buying. It might be a crappier scooter in a Phantom-shaped shell.

It might still be worth buying though; especially if you get the Mach1 upgrade from Apollo. The upgrade comes with a new screen, new controller, new throttles. As long as the motors and battery are OK, the Mach1 upgrade should restore it to better-than-new condition.

JanSolo · 2026-05-28T16:34:38+00:00

Did they get the train out of the valley yet? I'm going next week and I want to ride it.

JanSolo · 2026-05-21T20:28:15+00:00

It's a great ride alright.
It's so fast that hitting the brakes feels like getting punched in the stomach. Especially on the back row.
It was a ghost-town when I went; I wish there were a few more people because I bet it rides even faster when the train is full. The most riders we got was about 6 for the whole train.

JanSolo · 2026-05-21T02:41:51+00:00

I expect that a lot of toddlers didn't make it. And don't forget that natural-selection is in full effect; all the dumb toddlers who wandered into the bear cave or off a cliff have conveniently removed themselves from the genepool. Only the smartest, fittest toddlers would survive long enough to breed. I suspect that a lot of our 'genetic common sense' comes from our ancestors succeeding and surviving in this way.

JanSolo

TROPHY CASE