Renegade Review

Wow, I just got home from my day at Valleyfair, and Renegade is definitely the new best ride there.
To start, my first ride of the day was in the middle of the train, which was great, probably better than anything else at the park. Right after that we tried the very front, which was still fun, and then the back (which is where we kept going for the rest of the day). Let me just say that the back seat is amazing, and a completely different experience than the front. I guess I'll just talk my way through the ride from the back seat, definitely the best place to ride this coaster.

So, going out of the station you actually pick up some decent speed on the way to the lift, as the station is about 10-15 feet off the ground, then it's up the lift to the twisting first drop.

Just as you level off at the top of the lift, the train picks up speed instantly, and since the track isn't really banked at the top, you get some great lateral air time as the track drops out from under you. Then, without ever landing back in your seat, you twist to the left and get a great push to the right, finally landing back on your seat as the pullout starts. This is really the best part of riding near the middle or back of the train, as the drop isn't really anything special in the front.

The first hill has amazing floater/ejector air (about -0.4 G's if i had to guess) that is sustained for about 2 seconds. Then it's on to the first turnaround, which is a great, lat-filled, swooping turn, followed by an airtime filled transition into the turn at the bottom. This is another place where being in the back is definitely the best choice.

The second hill has about the same forces as the first, just over a smaller period of time, and then it's right into the S-turn. Both of these turns give great lats, and at the same time, you feel like you could just reach out and touch the handrails going right over your head.

Now it's up into the second turnaround, this time with airtime both in and out of it, and still some great lats in the middle. As you can probably guess, the air is better going in in the front, and going out in the back, but it's a lot stronger in the back than it is in the front (wow, I hope that makes sense[lol]). Anyway, after that is a swooping right turn, also with great lats, into the really weird yet really awesome reverse banked hill/turn. This had a little more than floater air, while also throwing you to the right. This goes up into another floater air hill, crossing over the service road, and throwing you into the finale of the ride.

The finale starts with the swooping left turn around the station, still giving great positive G's as well as lats. The next two hills are great, filled with semi-ejector airtime, and are small enough to make the make the ride feel like it is almost speeding up as you near the brakes. Finally, there's the 180-ish degree turn up into the brakes, complete with a little airtime bump in the middle. Something that surprised me was that Renegade has magnetic brakes before the usual friction ones. Maybe this is standard GCI though, and I've just never heard about it.

So, if you actually read that whole thing, hopefully it wasn't too boring, and all made sense. Renegade is definitely worth going to Valleyfair for if you've been looking for a reason to go there. Oh and also, even though I said the back is the best place, I think it's a good idea to ride in the front or middle first, because it's still a great ride, and it makes the back seem that much better when you do get to it.

Sorry I don't have any pictures, I'm going to try to get some later in the year.

Yeah, Renegade was amazing. Sat two seats from the back.

I always prefer the back seat on coasters except for one- Superman Ride of Steel.

Nice review Guitarplayer, but it still sounds like this ride is a little dissapointing in my eyes, as there was an oppurtunity for GCI to add a little stronger, yet still friendly airtime.

Or maybe he's just a bad "guesser" [approve]

This ride is better than Thunderhead. (Yes I have ridden Thunderhead.) It packs a punch with how much air and turns it has. GCI did an awesome job on this coaster. Thats all that needs to be said.

I think this ride looks amazing, I think Troy might beat it though.

Thanks for that very clear and thought out review. The airtime you described was about what I estimated from onride videos, so yeah from what I've seen (without having ridden the real ride) I'd say you're probably right about force magnitude.

That second turnaround looks like it kills a little bit of the speed and seems somewhat lackluster from what I've seen...did you get that impression from riding? I know there is airtime transitioning into and out of it, but the first turnaround seems much more effective because of it's pacing.

The second turnaround might be taken slower, but I'm pretty sure it has stronger lats than the first one actually. The banking gets really low for about 20 feet or so in the middle of it, whereas the first one is banked pretty steeply all the way around. The only part of the ride that seemed to kill the pacing a little was the hill over the road, back towards the station, but I don't think it was that bad. It makes for a nice little break right before the finale.

It depends on when you ride it as well. If you only rode in the morning it is slower. Ride it later in the day it is a lot faster.

^Yeah i noticed that too, we went on it first thing when we got there a couple times, then a bunch right at closing, and it definitely sped up over the course of the day.

Well I guess that clears up my thought "Jesus, that night ride was hella fast..."

I had no idea the ride got faster in the morning, but at 11:57 PM (last Saturday), with the lift supports golden and the forested section of the ride blackened, it's needed to say that it clearly pays off to wait until closing to ride. 1) No body in line, easy wait for front 'n' back 2) The experience is unforgettable.

Also, I have to concur with your statement, "I think it's a good idea to ride in the front or middle first..." Even though we were given a clear animation and POV and stuff, I would have to say ride in the back because of the first drop. You wouldn't think so, but the twisting actually does take you by surprise if you ride backseat your very first time. The lateral blow at the top (in backseat) wakes you up before you realize where you are, and then your just going way fast all of the sudden.

This is very delayed, but I wanted to come back to this after last weekend...