1st genuine post hehe... target fixation

[A_Mans_Ruin]

Went out with a few KB'ers on a ride this weekend and my main focus was my cornering I have been a nana of the late and have been very gentle with the mighty 250 (pfffft) lol.... So time to try some real riding!!!
I had never really spoken to anyone about target fixation except my sleezy instructor on my Bike skills course. I had previously tended to watch the corners and try and get round them, this weekend I managed to get my bike reasonably low and a bit tighter into the corners holding my focus point at a good distance ahead, wait dead possum oh fark where was I looking again... Anyways just wanted to have my rave and to say that I LEARNDED something yay.....
Am wanting a bit more advice on cornering, I have good riding experience generally and am a reasonably confident rider.... Just nana on corners!

[PirateJafa]

It's VERY important to learn not to target fixate.

The last dick who fell afoul of target fixation on a ride I was on crashed into me.

Once you've identified a hazard, look at your escape route, not the hazard.

[Katman]

Concentrate on gaining experience.

Forget the "low and tight" crap.

[Number One]

Every ride is a learning opportunity keep looking where you want to go and just relax...speed is not the be all and end all try to be smooth instead then you'll notice your speed comes up over time naturally and more safely.

Remember too that the road is not a racetrack...eh Katman

[madbikeboy]

Look where you want to go.

Repeat that many times inside your helmet. Also, look up a Mentor in your area (little green ME beside their names), or look up Katman (he posted above me), he's a good experienced rider and he's 40 minutes of nice riding from Vegas. (Plus he's married, and definitely not a sleeze, and a hell of a good guy to boot).

MBB.

[Number One]

he's married, and definitely not a sleeze, and a hell of a good guy to boot.

Aww come on - with carry on like that his piss will stop turning to icecubes before it hits the floor

[Boob Johnson]

Concentrate on gaining experience.

Forget the "low and tight" crap.

Good God Steve, but hardly surprising really. How you can call yourself a mentor is beyond me


Best advice would be to ignore Katman

[Maki]

Target fixation is a good thing. Negativity is a bad thing. Fixate on the good and the bad ceases to exist.

[PirateJafa]

Good point Maki, at least then they'll have lots of free time to kill while waiting for their bones to heal.

[Maki]

Fixate on the escape route, not the obstacle. For some strange reason the bike always goes where you look. The point is that you should look where you want to go.

[PirateJafa]

Oops, you were saying the glass is half full, whilst I was saying it was half empty. Time to knock off the liquor for the night.

[ital916]

Went out with a few KB'ers on a ride this weekend and my main focus was my cornering I have been a nana of the late and have been very gentle with the mighty 250 (pfffft) lol.... So time to try some real riding!!!
I had never really spoken to anyone about target fixation except my sleezy instructor on my Bike skills course. I had previously tended to watch the corners and try and get round them, this weekend I managed to get my bike reasonably low and a bit tighter into the corners holding my focus point at a good distance ahead, wait dead possum oh fark where was I looking again... Anyways just wanted to have my rave and to say that I LEARNDED something yay.....
Am wanting a bit more advice on cornering, I have good riding experience generally and am a reasonably confident rider.... Just nana on corners!

group riding can be detrimental to ones learning experience, try riding one on one with a mentor. It will be safer and you will learn more.

[Skyryder]

Look where you want to go.

Should be every bikers mantra.



Skyryder

[Skyryder]

Target fixation is a good thing. Negativity is a bad thing. Fixate on the good and the bad ceases to exist.

Nope. Not on the road. No fixation is good. Shit can happen on a good line. Once you have fixated you reduce your options.

Skyryder

[MSTRS:Me]

group riding can be detrimental to ones learning experience, try riding one on one with a mentor. It will be safer and you will learn more.

Excellent advice!
A mentor will 'teach' you the right way to approach/transition/exit a corner at a speed appropriate for you/current conditions. And how to manage the dreaded Target Fixation.