Target Fixation (not a crash story)

[jimaug87]

What is target fixation? From what I understand it is when you look at an object and unwillingly start turning towards said object. I think I may have been a victim of this horrible phenomina.

I was merging onto route 1 and had a yeild sign at the end of the ramp. So I kept my speed up and looked onto the highway to make sure that I was clear to enter. As I was nearing the end of the ramp I realized that a car was about the same spot I was in and I gave it some throttle to get in front of the car. Since I wanted to make sure they weren't speeding up as well I kind of kept my eye on them, but I also wanted to keep the bike tilted over to the right.

As I began entering the highway I noticed the bike was standing up too straight and I was drifting towards said car. I broke slightly and let the car pass. I think if I had been going faster that could have been ugly.

I know it wasn't my speed in the turn. I've taken that ramp way faster.

What is target fixation, and could I have almost been a victim? What are ways to avoid this happening. If I need to enter the highay again and have to look at oncoming traffic.

[hammadown]

You will hear it time and time again: You go where you look. Target fixation is the extreme case of this where you fixate on an object and go towards it. Sounds like you had a case of it, but many times target fixation ends with said bike (or other vehicle) hitting object.

[OreoGaborio]

Exactly, you go where you look. I'd say what you experienced wasn't really full on target fixation since it sounds like you weren't necessarily fixated on it... but it is related to it as you just went where you looked.

I'd say full on Target fixation involves more panic.... when you identify an obstacle, panic, stare at it, know you have to go around it, but can't force yourself to look away... so you freeze up, keep staring at it, track straight at it & hit it.

People often say "don't stare at it" (whatever "it" happens to be)... well I don't think that's specific enough as it doesn't really tell you what you SHOULD do. It's a "DON'T DO THAT!" way of thinking which is a vague negative rather than a specific positive... I've chosen to turn that around from a "Don't do" to a "DO... do".... ie "DO look for a way out".

Once I've identified the obstacle and decide that I need to avoid it, I force my brain to change from a "Identify the obstacle" mode to "Identify my escape route" mode. Look for a way out. Once I see my escape route it reduces the panic that can freeze me up, as now I know there's an alternative to hitting whatever the object happens to be and it'll be much easier for the bike to go there as that's where my eyes are looking.

Doing it this way has worked for me. I now instinctively look for my escape route before I can even finish thinking (or screaming) the words "OH SHIT!". I can think of at least 5 cases right now off the top of my head where this little technique of mine has possibly saved my life as well as other people's just in the past year. (*the most obvious case being when I almost T-boned fellow NESR member and racer Steve Schmidt at 85-80mph when his transmission popped into a false neutral while entering turn 1 and stood the bike up to take NASCAR turn 1... THAT was a big "oh shit" moment I"ll never forget)

I dunno... that's just my take on it. What works for me may not work for others.

It'll be interesting to read the responses of the Ken Condon's of the forum

[catch2otwo]

yep i was taught in msf to look where you want to go, and not look at what you want to avoid. if you stare at it long enough youll hit it.

kind of got a taste of it on misstwisties ride on saturday. i was riding in the rear of the group. my first group ride ever and the group was pretty quick for my experience. I was trying to focus on my technique but still wanted to watch the riders in front of me for their body postition, speed etc. probably not the best way to learn, but i figured it was good. i caught myself fixating on their tailights a few times and had to make a conscious deicison to look away and look at something else. just keep looking around when you ride. by the end of the ride i just kept the rider in my peripheral vision as i concentrated in looking through the turns instead. my riding felt alot smoother after that.

[hammadown]

Good addition about the panic scenario oreo!

I also had this happen to me during the misstwisties ride saturday. I was directly behind the first bike that went down. It was a fast closing turn and we were all a little hot for it. The bike in front of me went wide and I found myself following him. I literally yelled out loud in my helmet "Don't look!" and forced myself back to look through the turn and threw the bike over.

I'd like to actually take this moment to thank Graham from TTD who mentioned this technique during one of our sessions. You saved me from a crash, and I own ya a big one, so thank you sir!


Definitely looking forward to hear more from the experts on this one.

[catch2otwo]

its hard not too look. i think its human nature to be fixated on something shiny or something interesting like a crash or the back of someones bike. practice makes perfect.

[jimaug87]

Well in my case I had to look at the car that I had to merge around. Usually it's pretty clear when I'm getting off the ramp and I do just look thru the turn and it's a lot of fun.

I could have guessed his speed and gunned it and hoped for the best. Is there a way you guys know of to keep the car or obstical in sight to be sure you clear it while also avoiding it?

In this case as i mentioned, I downshifted and applied a little brake (not much because I was in a turn), and I know that's a cardinal sin). If there was a distracted cager behind me that didn't notice me slowing, (thank god I was alone on the ramp) that also could have been ugly.

Also on a side note. Why are they called cagers? Is it because the vehicle they are in is acting like a cage?

[ftrain]

I have this problem with big breasted women.

[Paul_E_D]

Me too. I try Graham's technique, but it just doesn't work???

[OreoGaborio]

Well in my case I had to look at the car that I had to merge around. Usually it's pretty clear when I'm getting off the ramp and I do just look thru the turn and it's a lot of fun.

I could have guessed his speed and gunned it and hoped for the best. Is there a way you guys know of to keep the car or obstical in sight to be sure you clear it while also avoiding it?

In this case as i mentioned, I downshifted and applied a little brake (not much because I was in a turn), and I know that's a cardinal sin). If there was a distracted cager behind me that didn't notice me slowing, (thank god I was alone on the ramp) that also could have been ugly.

Also on a side note. Why are they called cagers? Is it because the vehicle they are in is acting like a cage?

You can look at an obstical as long as you're still able to avoid it... typically i'll spot the hazzard, look for an escape route, establish myself on that escape route and keep track of the hazzard with my peripheral vision, especially if the obstical is a moving object... Your escape route is useless if it changes direction back into your intended path again.

Just do whatever works, as long as you can avoid the hazzard.

As for brakes in a turn, the only cardinal sin is not doing something that could have helped you avoid the object. People say "don't use the brakes in a turn".... what they SHOULD say is "Learn how to trail brake & the physics behind it before braking in a turn". The blanket statment "Don't use the brakes in a turn" can, and i'm sure HAS led to many crashes that could have been avoided if the rider had taken the time to learn about trail braking.

[hammadown]

Ywhat they SHOULD say is "Learn how to trail brake & the physics behind it before braking in a turn". The blanket statment "Don't use the brakes in a turn" can, and i'm sure HAS led to many crashes that could have been avoided if the rider had taken the time to learn about trail braking.

+1 proper trail braking can be the difference between a "that was close" to "shit my bike is totaled!"

[jimaug87]

Thanks guys. I didn't well... don't know about trail braking. Time to go learn something useful!

[OreoGaborio]

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...-articles.html

That thread has some good reads in it.... and some lost links

look for the link that says something about "Traction circle"... click that link & read through it... I think the traction circle & trail braking discussion is somewhere around 1/3rd of the way down.

As always, whenever trying something new on the street or on the track.... remember to back it off a knotch.

PS, where were ya on Saturday? Shoulda came to the group ride.