Voted as the number one invert for quite a few years on different sites i think deserves it with the 195ft drop and the six ineversions im sure it packs punch. But i havent rode it but from looks like alot of fun who all here has rode ot? How intense is it an the scenery looks great so what is it really like. What are your thoughts on alpengeist it looks like one awesome invery and definetly deserves the number one B&M invert spot!

I've rode it many times...what ive found funny is that it was my first looping roller coaster . But its great. Ya its intense in some parts, but that makes it awesome! i remember walking past it as it was being built (as i was 5 or so) my parents saying "how is that huge thing gonna fit in that tiny valley?" but it did, and it makes it amazing. 6 inversions of crazyness and one of the best rides in the world. everyone needs to ride this!

It's one of the most intense inverts out there. A 106' loop right after like a 130' immelman right after a 170 foot drop. Thats a hefty comparison.

When I finally got to ride it, (last Tuesday) the thing Iwas most interested in was the twisted drop. I was like "how is that going to feel??" BUt it was F-U-N FUN!!! You should definitely get back up there and ride it.

^Edit: Crap!! Just uploaded my sig and it looks just like yours!! I'll change mine hepta.

Alpengeist is one hell of a ride, especially the cobra roll which is just a sinister maneuver...overall a fantastic B&M invert with a lot of powerful forces and quick, snapping inversions, but I think the crown for best overall B&M invert could go to Montu, Nemesis, or Black Mamba Regardless, Alpengeist is a great ride and currently sits at #3 for me in my Top 10

Definitely my favorite invert. In fact I think I enjoyed it more than Montu. While Montu actually allows you to know what is going on during the ride... alpengeist makes you lose all sense of direction. The theming is pretty sweet, although its hard to make a realistic version of the alps in the middle of the temperate virginia, haha. Just an all around intense ride that keeps you guessing everytime.

^agreed, many enthusiasts put Montu over Alpie but i honestly disagree, both are fantastic inverts but Alpengeist uses the terrain and creates an awesome theme with the runaway ski lift, it just works and it was hands down a winner

Ok, I got to ride Alpengeist again on the 22nd, and I have to change my mind on what I said on the 21st:

Alpengeist will be hard to top in the world of inverts I had one of the best rides I've ever had on Alpie last Thursday, and it has rekindled my love for the ride!

Alpengeist is without a doubt one of the top inverted coasters in the world. Offering an amazing layout, theming, and environment interaction, most other inverts can't compare. Although I hear many people say that Apli is overrated and is too boring, I must disagree. Even after all these years Alpi packs a punch that only the likes of Nemesis and probably Black Mamba can compete with. (I have not ridden Black Mamba yet so I'm basing that judgement off of reviews from those who have ridden it) I believe that Alpengeist still remains the best attraction at BGE. Let's just see what 2007 has in store though, shall we?

Alpengeist's cobra roll looks really awesome and so does the drop i really want to ride it someday. Another thing is its greatly themed from the pictures of the ride ive seen. The trai's wheel covers also are themed to the ride which is cool so definetly seems to be a very good invert.

I hope you'all forgive me up front, cause by the time I've finished, you'll probably all be sick of hearing the KING of all Inverts!
B&M alone have made some 27 Inverts world-wide in the last 14 years or so, and they are far and away considered the best and the leader of "pure", traditional lift hill Invert coasters--or any coaster that they make for that matter.
In the 5 years before, and more surprisingly in the 9 years since; No Invert has come close to Alpies combination of size, speed, terrain layout, inversion elements, and thrill intensity.
Some coaster buffs might try to tell you that Wicked Twister @ CP is a taller Invert, BUT WT is an Invert only by design (seating), its actually called a "twisted impluse coaster" or an "LIM launch track coaster"--and thats just not the same type of animal. Personally I luv Volcano, The Blast Coaster @ PKD (or CFKD, or whatever Paramounts parks will soon be called ), but Volcano is a launch Invert, so I don't put them in the same group as a lift hill Invert.
Regardless, when you compare all the stats, and have ridden as large a number of Inverts as I have over the years, Alpengeist stands head & shoulders over all. The only Invert that comes close that I've done is its older little sibling Montu @ BGA. Montu beats Alpie and ALL other Inverts in one way, and thats in the # and flow of its inversions--it has 7, no other has 7 or more to the best of my knowlege, and the flow from one to another is incredible!! Now, Montu is my 2nd favorite Invert of all, but just compare it to Alpie in other ways to see where it falls short: lets see, Alpengeist is 195' tall with a 170' drop @ 55 degrees, reaches 68 mph, has 6 large, intense inversions and is the terrain champ; Montu is 150' high (believe it or not, that ranks it #2, 1' ahead of Patriots 149' in 3rd place) with a 128' drop @ 50 degrees--all MUCH smaller numbers than big brother Alpie, and it shows in the riding of each.
I'm going to rank my top 5 Inverts, with stats, you compare your favorite to Alpie, and see how it matchs up;
1) Alpengeist--195'h--170'd--55deg--68mph--6inv
2) Montu------150'h--128'd--50deg--60mph--7inv
3) Raptor-----137'h--119'd--??deg--57mph--6inv
4) Talon------135'h--120'd--??deg--58mph--4inv
5) Fire (DD)--127'h--115'd--??deg--60mph--5inv
Thats my top 5, with Patriot & Silver Bullet as honorable mentions; NO, I haven't ridden all of them, but almost --my biggest question is WHY is Alpengeist still so much bigger than all rest after all these years?! Did B&M feel that the limit was reached when Alpengeist was made, certainly other parks have wanted as large or larger Inverts, they've had the room, etc., but it hasn't been done, not even close.
I've always been one to say that bigger and faster is not always the most important factors in determining a great coaster ride, but in this case of traditional, lift hill Inverts; Alpie is indeed SO much bigger, faster, steeper, intense elemented, terrain & themed enhanced over all the others, just how could anyone NOT vote Alpengeist the best Invert--maybe just to be different, or to support their home coaster, or to spite the BGE fans I guess. Well, thanks for letting me ramble on about the best Invert in the world--if I can't do it here, where else could I, eh?

Alpengeist ahhh great ride from the scenery to the ride itself. Its gotten a little bit rougher in the years its been there but its really not bad at all. Its one of those rides youve just got to ride to experience.

I got to get front on Alpie on the 24th, and that definetely made me love it more/again! I think its a little smoother up in the front, and i love the view.
Here are my top 5 inverts
Alpengeist
Montu
Raptor
Fire(DD)
then either Volcano or Talon

Gahh...Raptor shouldn't be in the same group as Montu. Such a major disappointment for me.

hey at least i put it below Montu...
haha i was talking to my friend last night after his trip to CP
he said that Raptor was way better than Alpengeist,and that Raptor had more theming and was a better ride
I laugh in his face
wow what is he thinking

Classic example of how clever advertising can brain-wash an entire nation into thinking everything at Cedar Point is unbeatable

... brainwashing like the concept of Cedar Far management being good for parks?

^They might not be the best parks in America, but they ARE better managed than Paramount Parks were, if that is what you're hitting at, Joe...

Anyways, lets get back on topic hahaaha

^^Look guys; Raptor is a great Invert, it set the standard back in 94' which only Montu (96') and obviously Alpengeist (97') have beat and re-set.
The major point of my whole earlier speel was to point out clearly and catagorically that NO Invert really comes close to Alpengeist is most any way, except Montus # & flow of inversions--thats the unbiased truth, even though I'm biased If someone strongly defends a different Invert, its usually in their home park, or they haven't actually ridden Alpengeist, or they're tired of all the glory going to BGE & Alpengeist--we ALL have our reasons for what we like best, its just hard to argue with the facts & truth

Raptor is an awesome ride, I haven't been on it for 6 years and am returning next year, really anticipating this thing again, I really forgot about it but I do remember it being my 2nd fav @ CP. Alpie is awesome but it is aging, I rode in the front and had a great ride, miss it cause im in NJ so I don't get to ride very much

I don't think Alpengeist will ever be topped. It's been ten years almost and no one has done it. For what sheikra 182 said about the cobra roll, it is awesome! I'm pretty sure thats the most intense part on that ride, and I love it. It feels like you pull more g's on Alpie then Apollos Chariot. Maybe it's just me. Its still always gonna be my favorite ride at BGE and in the world.

that's actually my least favorite part of the ride, it's the roughest cobra roll on any coaster I've experienced, nothing against the ride but that's my 2 cents

After several rides this year, I am beginning to realize Alpengeist's cobra roll is just extremely intense...it's really not all that rough at all. I tried keeping my hands up during it yesterday, and there was minimal head-banging. I had some of the best rides I've ever had on Alpengeist yesterday, and I am contemplating moving the ride to #2 in my Top 10

i dont experience any headbanging at all on the ride, no matter where i sit. but the intensity makes it more fun to me. trying to keep your hands up isnt difficult to me for some reason, but a lot of my friends say they cant whenever we ride it.

If you catch a ride in the back, when you hit the break station u catch a little bit of headbanging, but other than that, i've never had any problems. The front is probably the best, not much whipping, just lots of G-forces and wind in your face. Total chaos, its great.

its a very cool ride iv rode it time an time again it never gets old

Alpie RULES! My very favorite coaster there..its a must ride whenever I visit!

Most guests I ask say that alpie is their fave ride at the park. And I must say that I agree :3

I've lost count how many times I've ridden Alpie...this season! Truely a remarkable ride. Intense, yet smooth.

Yea it's intense. That cobra roll(just learned what that's called) is just starting to get a little to jerky. Although I think the two what i call barrel rolls are starting to get smoother. What am i saying! Still I like riding Alpengeist.

Forever shall your snowy sleeves blow and your flip-flop grabbing claws shine throughout eternity!



Skyrider

I actually find that odd. You'd think that somebody would have built some kind of hyper inverted coaster or something wacky like that by now.


Oh and has anyone seen the little gravity measure thingies on the back of row 5 or 6 of each train? If you watch it, you'll see that the cobra is actually the most intense part of the ride. I think one time I saw it pull close to 4 g's. My favorite part is still the little dive into the hut after the trim brake

This topic reminds me of the last trip that my mother and I went to. Two years ago,I took her to BGE for a day. She can't ride anymore,due to high blood pressure and a few other conditions,but anyway,we walked over to Alpengeist,she waited for me while I rode it twice in a row(it was early in the morning,before the line got packed). Well,anyway,she was amazed at the coaster itself. All day long,she kept on asking me who designed it,and I told her it was a company called B&M from Switzerland,she said"DAMN,THEY DID A GREAT JOB DESIGNING THIS ONE!!. I'm planning to take her next year,so that she can see me ride Griffon. She lives on through me.So,in a way,I rode for her that day.

I truly consider Alpie one of the best complete coasters out there. The theming is perfect, the setting is perfect, it uses the terrain, a great combination of elements, and it's at a Busch Park which means it never goes more than a couple years before getting a shiny paint job.

It doesn't seem like many people realize this any more, but in 1997 when it opened, Alpengeist flew through the mid-course brakes almost untouched, which meant the 2nd half of the ride was much more intense than it is now. Now it slows down quite a bit depending on how much the train weighs. If it weren't for the heavier braking, I think it would be on the top of my invert list, but quite honestly Raptor gives a better ride overall. Of course that's just my opinion. Alpie is still in my top 10 steel coasters which says a lot.

I've heard some people say when the weather gets cooler they lighten the mid-course brakes up, so I might have to check that out later in October.

Here's a little tip. Don't ever ride Alpengeist at the dark of night. I went on it a few nights ago at Howl-O-Scream and everthing was awesome til' the Picture. That flash was so bright I couldn't see for about 20 seconds. And anyway it came out to be a bad picture!


Skyrider

In my opinion, the best time to ride Alpie is front row, in the dark. I just close my eyes for the picture.

For comparison, I took my friend a couple of weeks ago, who had never ridden Alpie before. We rode twice that day, once in daylight, and the second time at night. Both times were in the back row. His comment to me was that the night ride felt more intense because of a lack of vision.

I love Alpengeist. It is an engineering masterpiece.

The only part that i find rough is going into the MCBR.

^Yea, my dad almost lost his sunglasses right there


Lesson: Don't wear sunglasses on a fast roller coaster

I'm so excited to get to ride Alpengeist next year for the first time . Should be fun to compare it to it's brother down south, Montu. I've ridden that one at least 18 times. They both seem to share the title of best B&M invert. Alpie's drop looks crazy, really steep for an invert, and really twisted. On vids, the cobra roll looks like the most intense element, meaning the funnest. I think it has a really cool theme - runaway ski lift thats haunted by some crazy ghost in the Alps. Can't Wait.

^ I rode Montu 18 times in one day


You'll love Alpengeist. I would say Montu and Alpengeist are about equal in power, though Montu has an extra inversion and I like the Egyptian themeing and the color scheme better than that of Alpie's. And Montu's boomerang can't be beat, even by Alpie's cobra roll. Still, they're both amazing rides

I live in Virginia but I have been to BGT. I have to say even though Alpengeist is my favorite roller coaster at BGE, I like Montu just a little better. I love the themeing of it and how it goes underground.

Alpengeist looks simply amazing, even Montu can't beat it.

Montu was good but Alpengeist beats it by a landslide, no stomach feeling on the drop, a little higher, only 1 less inversion, but still overall, best ride in the park til' Griffon!

Does Alpengeist have trims? And if it does, when they are off, is the ride a whole better? I've never heard of it having any. (Sorry if this has been metioned, I didn't read all 3 pages of this thread)

I'm asking because Montu has these trims right after the Zero G-Roll, when they are off, which isn't rare, the ride is the best in the state , maybe even in the southeast. The G's at the bottom of the batwing are awsome.

It might but theyve never been on when i ride it which is like 1-2 times atleast per month.

The only brakes on alpengiest are the end brakes and the MCBR. Amazing that it gets through all those elements using only gravity.

Actually, Alpengeist has trims on the dip at the top of the lift, which I don't think impact the ride at all.

^Correct, there are slight brakes during the pre-drop and then the MCBR before the Zero-G Roll. Those are the only brakes during the actual ride, excluding the final brakes of course

Wow. I never knew that. Kind of a wierd place for brakes.

^Well, that pre-drop is there to reduce lift hill chain tension, but it still adds some speed, and I'm guessing those breaks take it away. I'm not sure why they would want to reduce speed before the drop. Maybe not to have an over-speed going down. That's what I think.

They probably decided to trim the speed a little because of the high G-forces on the inversions if it went over speed.