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I have come to believe that the major skill when riding singletrack is scanning the terrain. After any turn there could be a hiker, a fallen log or just a boulder that you didn't memorize during the last pass. From then on, the reflexes, embedded in the muscle memory, kick in and braking/turning/dabbing/hopping occur.

I attempt to look as far forward as speed dictates, and not to get fixated on obstacles. Still, the perpetual concentration becomes tiring after a couple of hours.

Any tips on both how to both improve scanning at high speeds and how to become less fatigued by a whole day of riding?

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    Its the same way you get to Carnegie Hall.....
    – Criggie ♦
    Commented Jun 29, 2016 at 9:31
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    @Criggie - take the bus? ;)
    – FreeMan
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 20:27
  • @FreeMan It a joke so old it was on the Muppet Show in the 70s. The answer is "Practice, practice, practice." Not given as an answer cos OP has a point, in that practicing bad habits is counterproductive.
    – Criggie ♦
    Commented Jul 6, 2016 at 0:51
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    Yes, yes, @Criggie, that's why the "winkey" was there... bork, bork, bork!
    – FreeMan
    Commented Jul 6, 2016 at 11:40

3 Answers 3

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Just keep on doing what you're doing.

To get good at anything, the easiest way is to keep doing that thing.

As an aside, I find I descend a lot quicker when I'm wearing a cap with the peak down. I think that having the peak in my field of view forces me to keep my head up.

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    I've noticed I'm going faster when wearing helmet - it has a peak too, so maybe it's the same effect
    – k102
    Commented Jun 28, 2016 at 7:50
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    @k102 ....or risk compensation.
    – Grimm The Opiner
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 14:28
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Some suggestions:

Follow someone else who better than you. Try to keep up - you'll be looking at where they are, ahead of you helps you anticipate whats coming up.

Ride the same track in the dark, and its a whole new experience. Your light only throws so far - even the best ones only reliably show up 20 metres ahead and that tends to be a spot not a flood.

Lower your saddle a bit - less aero and more upright will help a bit.

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    Mmm, not sure about this, you'll be looking at another rider not the terrain. Learning to look past the rider in front is worth practising - but that's not what you're advocating. Also the riding in the dark will teach you to focus on what's lit, not necessarily what needs looking at, and could be counterproductive.
    – Grimm The Opiner
    Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 12:22
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Don't just look.
You can look by just moving your eyes.
No, looking's not enough - you want to look.

Don't point your eyes, don't even just point your head - point your chin where you want to go - you want your head up and leading your body. Every few seconds scream "LOOK!!" in your head (or out loud, doesn't matter to me) - and then look*. (Not just look.)

(*With your chin.)

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