What is a better ride on a rollercoaster, the front or the back? And Why?

Answer 1

the front, you feel the air in your face and you see whats coming..

Answer 2

It really depends on the type of roller coaster. If you ride an old fashioned one (one that takes the coaster to the highest point by chain) If you are a newbie to that coaster or coasters in general and are a bit scared the front is the best place to be because the front end is already about 1/4 of the way down the hill before the last car is released. However if you are a veteran roller coaster rider or just want the full experience the very back car is the best place to be because you'll get the full effect of the roller coaster however the back car will toss you a little more than any other car. If you're not sure whether you want the front or the back the middle is a good place to be.

On the other hand coasters that don't require that chain and just shoots you out onto the track it really doesn't matter much because everyone feels the same effect instantaneously.

Answer 3

There is no correct answer to this question. It depends on your preference and it depends on the ride. As a "roller coaster expert" I can tell you that even the experts debate this and yet we're expected to know the answer.

For some types of roller coasters the front will be the better ride because of the unobstructed view. Inverted roller coasters like Batman The Ride at Six Flags Great America, Raptor at Cedar Point and Silver Bullet at Knott's Berry Farm are examples. In this case, no one is hanging from the track in front of you and it enhances the overall experience.

On Floorless roller coasters like Scream at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure the front is usually better and probably the same is true for a Dive Machine like SheiKra at Busch Gardens Africa, though I personally liked any row on this ride.

However, on some roller coasters the back may be the preferred spot because of the airtime. As the front cars begin descending the drop, the ENTIRE train increases in speed and by the time the rear car begins the descent it actually generates more negative g-forces or "air-time" for the backseat rides.

The same can be true for the front seat as the train races up a hill and the front car reaches the top of a hill while the entire train is traveling faster, thus propelling your body skyward.

On many launched roller coasters the front seat is the preferred place for the rush of wind that fills your face. It's exciting.

Overall, the front offers generally an unobstructed view of the track, nothing in front of you and the feeling of speed created by the air hitting your face. The back offers on some rides more airtime because by the time the rear car begins descending the entire train is traveling faster.

Keep in mind the misconception is the speed. The front car does not travel faster than the back car and vice versa. The entire train of cars travels at the same speed that will vary throughout the circuit.

Ultimately, you will have to find the real answer by going to ride the roller coasters for yourself. If you have a chance ride in both the front and the rear and you'll find your answer.

Answer 4

There were already 23 good answers when I saw this question. Most seem to agree that the front is good because you can see the track in front of you, that the back is good for the "whiplash" sensation, and the middle is smoothest (good for beginners).

I prefer the front seat, because it's fast, smooth and has a view. But It's also the only seat that you're safe from an accidental "protein spill" from other riders. If there's anyone sitting in front of you and they get sick, you have a chance of getting hit with flying puke. Ugh.

By the way, unless it's not allowed, I always wear sunglasses when riding. The one drawback to the front seat is you can get hit with more bugs. And Cedar Point, Millennium Force during mufflehead season? God, wear goggles and a hood.

Answer 5

usually the front. here is a break down of the plus and minus of each are of the coaster.

Front Row. it gives you a clear view of everything that is going on. it has probably the smoothest ride. draw back, that if you are on the type of coaster that builds up speed after going over a hill, you will not have the same speed sensation as you have in the other areas of the coaster.

Middle. fairly smooth ride, get the good speed but the only draw back, you view is limited by the people in front of you.

Back, usually the most violent and roughest ride. usually also feels the fastest. because by the time you go over a hill, the rest of the train has already gone over it and you are traveling at top speed.

now these rules don't always apply to all coaster but its a good general rule of thumb.

Answer 6

The front is better on steel rollercoasters because they go faster and you get to see all of the action first-hand. But if you're riding a wooden rollercoaster the back is best because you feel all of the bumps and curves better (much scarier).

Answer 7

Great question! Overall I prefer the back seats on most coasters, more on that in a moment.
I do prefer the front row on some coasters, such as inverted(Alpengeist, Batman the Ride), floorless (such as Medusa or Superman Krypton Coaster), dive coasters (such as Griffon, Shiekra, or Oblivion), rocket coasters (Kingda Ka,Dragster, Storm Runner, ect), and launched coasters such as Mr. Freeze. The thrill of these rides depends on the rider's view. For example, you can't really see the track under your feet on Medusa in any other rows besides the front. The best moment on Griffon is when you are held motionless before the big drop. Riders can take in the view, look at the ground waaaaay below their feet....You can't see all of that from the middle or back row.
However, on most wooden and hypercoasters, I prefer the back. The back seats usually offer a wilder ride, often with more defined moments of airtime. Also, on drops, the front of the train has begun its descent, so riders in the back cars get the sensation of being pulled over the drop. On two of my favorite steel coasters, Apollo's Chariot and Nitro, (produced by the same manufacturer) the back seats offer the best ride in my opinion. Both of these rides deliver tons of airtime on the first drop and the following hills, which is not as noticeable in the front of the train. Combine that with the feeling of being pulled over every hill, and you have my favorite kind of ride.However, many will opt for the open, unobstructed view in the front row. It it all a matter of personal preference. I prefer a more agressive and intense ride, with tons of airtime. For that reason, The Voyage at Holiday World is my favorite wooden coaster, which is also a backseat ride imo.
Whenever I ride coasters that are new to me, I always try both the front and the back of the train whenever possible.

Answer 8

On the first drop, the first car is descending slowly because the last car is still going up the hill. When the back car starts going down, however, the entire weight of the train is downhill. So in back, you get yanked over the top of the hill and instantly have a high speed of descent. For that reason, I've liked riding in the back.

However, sometimes on middle-of-the-ride hills, you can get airtime (come out of your seat) in the front or middle; it just depends on the ride.

Rule of thumb: The front seat provides the best view, the back seat provides the best drops, and the middle gives you a combination of the two.

Answer 9

I would get on the front row as I feel like I want to get a feel of the speed or the steel ( wooden ) rambles racing alomg the track. For an awesome big air floater I would get on the back row since it looks like I'm really going to be flung out of the car as going straight down from the top. The back row is also good to get a feel of super intense downward force. It's like the front car starts to clear up the hill as the back one is still in the bottom of the drop at the top speed.

At the first drop: the front car is falling down, the back is getting faster to get a big air floater. When cresting the hill: the front gets slower at the slope, the back is ready for an airtime.

For the speed: the front row
For the thrills and airtimes: the back row
Those who loves g-force: the back row

Answer 10

Depends on the ride really, but for most rides you must experience it from the front and the back to truly appreciate the ride.

Answer 11

I always love the front. I love to see what's coming up. But the back can be fun too. Usually the back seats tend to get whipped over hills and through the loops faster.