Eyes part 1 talked about understanding and training the riders eyes to perceive potential dangerous
situations. Part 2 talked about how others might or might not see you. In Part 3 we will talk about how
to train your eyes to prioritize when and where to look.
In urban environments you should be practicing SIPDE, always scanning ahead looking for potential
problems. This is priority #1. As you transition into the country and there are less intersections and
conflicts you will want to prioritize your eyes to identify where you want to go. This is especially true on
twisty back roads.
On a twisty road your eyes priorities are as follows. 1) Scan ahead and gauge your speed in relation to
the upcoming corner using road signs as an indicator of the severity of the corner. Brake and downshift
as required before you begin to lean the bike. Resist the temptation to drop your eyes as the speed
decreases. 2) Identify a turn in point that will allow you to carry a consistent arc through the corner. If
you turn too soon you will exit too wide and that can put you into oncoming traffic or out in the
rhubarb. 3) As you initiate the lean your eyes will move ahead to the apex of the corner and scan for
debris or some other factor that might influence your line. The apex is sort of the halfway point of most
corners and the transition from “Wow” to “Go”. 4) Once your eyes have committed to get you to the
apex you will move their focus to the exit of the corner making sure you are looking ahead and where
you want to go.
Signs that you have not trained your eyes to focus ahead include multiple turns and lean angles in the
same corner, playing with the throttle (on/off/on/off), the dreaded stab at the brakes or a late hard turn
to keep you in your lane.
Proper training of your eyes will give you the confidence to nicely arc corners smiling and breathing
instead of clenching your teeth and holding your breath. Proper training of your eyes will make you a
much more confident rider and make your rides much more enjoyable.