Im not going to be able to wax poetic about the Cyclone like a native New Yorker could. Living my entire life in Southern California, I didnt conquer my first coaster with the Cyclone, nor go on my first date at Astroland. However, knowing of the worlds most famous coaster from afar for so many years, and then finally being able to ride, I can sing this coasters praises from a different perspective. I dont want to sound too ridiculous, but getting a glimpse of the coaster from the subway as we pulled into the Coney Island station was almost a religious experience. After seeing countless pictures and videos of this coaster, I was finally here to ride in person. (I have previously ridden two Cyclone copies, Psyclone at Magic Mountain and Texas Cyclone at Astroworld. What a testament to this classic that, while those two have both been sent to roller coaster heaven, this one is still going strong.) Approaching the ticket booth, my group got to see a train run through the course. My brother (not a coaster enthusiast, though hes been on a good share of coasters) commented that it looked pretty weak. He he. What a surprise waited in store for him. The first thing I noticed was the lack of any organization in the station. There was really no line, and the returning train had the option of re-riding, so some seats were taken and some werent. It was just sort of a free-for-all to find a spot. The seats and lap bars were in pretty bad shape--very torn up. The ride attendants (the term used loosely here) didnt check us at all. I assume they must have given everyone a once-over, but I felt like it was our responsibility to sit down and secure ourselves in, for as soon as everyone was seated, the train was dispatched. Creaking up the lift hill, I noticed a very warped feel to the whole thing, like the seats and the train were not shifting in sync with each other or with the track. But you know what--none of this bothered me at all. I knew we were riding a coaster from a day and age long gone, and this was all part of the thrill of that experience. We were riding toward the back of the train, and as we reached the top, the slow creakiness of the initial ascent changed into the outright insanity that is Cyclone. I just couldnt believe that the first drop was as intense as it was, and as a perfect take-that, someones hat toward the front of the train flew off and smacked my brother in the face, only to fly off him as well. We then got to enjoy/endure all the rest that Cyclone has to offer. All of the hills and turns were executed so classically, with g-forces every which way. There was so much out-of-your-seat time, slamming-back-into-your-seat time, and slamming-side-to-side-in-your-seat time, and just as you start to get the hang of one maneuver, it launches into a different one. The speed felt relentless, and the old-fashioned ricketiness of the whole thing is capable of drawing very mixed emotions. I was loving the blast-from-the-past sensations that it provided, while the friend riding next to me swore we were going to die! Though we all try to praise the Cyclone as best we can, and provide all the details of our exceptional experiences, none of that can really do the coaster justice. You just have to ride the beast to know, and Im so glad to finally have had the chance to do so.
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