Avoiding Hazards Before They Are Hazardous

Among many other important techniques that aid in becoming a better rider, keeping your eyes up is near the top. Being able to see the potential hazards even half a second before they get to you could mean staying on the bike or eating the pavement. An elite rider uses his eyes to avoid situations that require the rider to use his/her elite skill.

I’m sure you’ve experienced a time where you saw a pothole, gravel in the road or a pool of water and it seemed completely unavoidable. You were fixated on the hazard and sure enough you rode right into it’s trap. This is an example of target fixation and is the culprit of many accidents both on the track and off.

Over the years of riding motorcycles, snowboarding and cycling it has become more apparent the universal law of target fixation. Riding through the busy streets of downtown Chicago on bicycle is risky, but staring at the tail light of every car that cuts me off is a sure fire way to end up on the ground.

Watch the pros in MotoGP, Moto America or WSBK. When a rider is pushed off the race line or ends up off track and runs wide – notice the rider initially looking at the gravel field ahead and then quickly turning his head back to the track and getting the bike slowed and pointed in the direction he wants to go.

Watch this video and notice where the rider is looking when he runs off the track and then where he looks when he gets back on the race line.

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati teammates also starred in an electrifying battle in WorldSBK Race 1. Who won? Chaz Davies or Davide Giugliano? Find more videos on http://bit.ly/1LisxMl. #ThaiWorldSBK Posted by WorldSBK on Saturday, March 12, 2016

There are a few things you can do to practice keeping your eyes up both on the track and off the track. It might seem strange at first, but bury this in your head and start looking where you want to go.

How To Avoid Hazards:

1. Scan Your Eyes: Scanning your eyes up the road/track and back and forth allows everything coming at you, to come at you much slower. Next time you’re in your car, look out the driver side window and directly at the ground. Notice how quickly the lines of the road zip past your eyes in a blur of color. Now take your eyes back up through the windshield and look way out in the distance and scan your eyes back towards the car and notice how slow the lines on the road appear to come at you. Scanning the road will allow the world to come at you much slower, allowing you to make decisions before any situation becomes hazardous.

2. Use Your Peripherals: Next time you’re riding your bicycle or even walking down the street. Try and count the cracks in the sidewalk as you move. While you’re counting, try and notice any larger cracks or potholes in the sidewalk. Keep your eyes up while you’re walking. This will become second nature and slowly become habitual.

3. Don’t Fixate Your Eyes: Keep your eyes moving. Don’t stare at the entrance of a corner for too long as it will only slow down your exit. Sure, you might nail that apex, but with no strong drive out, you’re sure to be passed. Find your apex – find your exit – find your apex – back and forth. Keep your eyes moving to keep the bike moving.