question

**Railing** · 07-14-2010, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by retrorabbit

Sam's thread got me thinking about parking lot drills for newer riders that are interested in progressing to the next level in a reasonably safe and controlled environment.

With this idea in mind, I'd like to pose a question. Would a parking lot obstacle course be a good drill to teach a rider to look through a turn. Obstruct the visor in some manner to limit the field of view and force a head turn to focus the riders attention. On the street the idea seems ridiculous, but in a controlled environment I think it could be very beneficial.

I find myself cheating with looking through the turn. My head may be turned, but often my eyes are only looking twenty feet ahead of the front tire.

Comments, criticism, or ideas are welcome.

Blinders, no. Not needed. What you need is an instructor watching the eyes of the rider and making the rider look for the exit, then telling them to do so. This is what they do in the MSF and Total Control classes. They instruct by seeing what you are doing and helping you correct it. They make you look at them and they are in line with the exit. You then have to practice these drills without the instructor and make yourself look for the exit.

As what was mentioned, a different color cone or a double cone, something to draw your attention to the exit is a good thing to have to adjust your attention. No reason to obstruct your field of vision, so do it with something eye catching on the course.

If you haven't read them yet, read Total Control by Lee Parks, and Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch. Both of these books discuss the techniques for riding on the street. Neither I would consider a "definitive" guide to it, both offer different techniques, but both offer some great insight and some great drills.