Looking where you want to go

[Tekneek]

This thread reminded of a time when I was doing some training for DH mountain biking (or mtn biking in general). We did some parking lot drills where we would initiate a turn in one direction (with a pretty extreme lean) and try to turn as tight a circle as we could without falling over. The trick was to basically crank your neck and body around to look at your back tire. Sort of like a dog chasing its own tail. Very weird feeling, but it worked.

 Ha! I've done the exact same drills on my DH bike. Definitely helps with slamming those switchbacks at speed.

[Latinbalar]

I do both Mtn biking and riding (of course) and one thing I have learned is that your mind is a lot quicker than you can think.  Your reflexes are much quicker since your not thinking about it.  So after riding for a while you train your body how to ride and can do it effortlessly.  So when your looking ahead your planning your route and letting your reflexes take over on whats going on at that moment.  There is no way you can feel whats going on and thinking about the correct action in that fraction of the second its happening, but your reflexes can.

Like when i mtn bike (thats where i usually push harder) my vision is down the trail a few feet in front of me depending on the corner or how fast i'm going, and i pick my line and let my body take care of the rest.  IF there is mud or a loose rock and lets say my rear end kicks out my reflexes already knows so shift my weight and turn with the bike. Its when I start to over think whats going on is when i crash.

I hope this helps

[Spck31]

I do both Mtn biking and riding (of course) and one thing I have learned is that your mind is a lot quicker than you can think.  Your reflexes are much quicker since your not thinking about it.  So after riding for a while you train your body how to ride and can do it effortlessly.  So when your looking ahead your planning your route and letting your reflexes take over on whats going on at that moment.  There is no way you can feel whats going on and thinking about the correct action in that fraction of the second its happening, but your reflexes can.

Like when i mtn bike (thats where i usually push harder) my vision is down the trail a few feet in front of me depending on the corner or how fast i'm going, and i pick my line and let my body take care of the rest.  IF there is mud or a loose rock and lets say my rear end kicks out my reflexes already knows so shift my weight and turn with the bike. Its when I start to over think whats going on is when i crash.

I hope this helps

+1
You're all right Latinbalar!
Few years ago i was Mtn bike downhiller too (race comp and for fun), visuliaze the line where i want to go is the primary thing i always keeped in mind, you're right the body take care of the rest.
This physiologic and psychologic skill, keep me on two wheels on critical moments in motorcycle ridin too.

Canada cup, Mt Tremblant, July 2002 by Spck 31, on Flickr

[Latinbalar]

Wow! I'm not that intense of a MTN biker but it applies to everything, just a few nights ago i was crossing an exit to a shopping center and a car was about to make a left in-front of me crossing in-front of my path.  The driver was too distracted to look back at me before going.  So I had already was looking ahead and when I realized they were going i let the reflexes take over for a quick stop. The rear wheel got loose but i went thru all the motions.
 1. Squeeze legs on tank
2. hit front and rear brakes
3. eyes forward to keep stable and look for a way out. (don't look at car cause your gonna hit it.)
 SO the result was I slowed enough so that that i could ride around the back of the car with the rear wheel skipping slightly.