I guess I'll just stick to what you've asked rather than adding further to the list of experiences of lapses in concentration. They do happen and thats a fact. Though merely acknowledging this fact doesn't make its consequences any less dangerous.

What you want to know is a way to improve your concentration while you're riding. A method or way to give you the ability to hold focus on the job at hand...which is riding. I'll give a brief description of the ways and methods I've used to keep my mind on the job.

1. I mentally step into the ride while I put on my riding gear. I look over the bike, start it and let it warm up at idle and while putting on my helmet and gloves, mentally visualize the route I shall be taking. I quote here from 'Mind Riding' from The Art of Safe Riding: "While buckling your helmet and pulling on your gloves, take the time to visualize your ride ahead. Get into the rider's frame of mind, all focused. Run a mental equivalent of a video recording of the ride ahead if the route is familiar or just visualize yourself going through the motions of riding through the anticipated conditions. For example, if it is raining, imagine yourself braking and accelerating gently and steering your bike around obstacles deliberately. This mental previewing of actions primes your mind into focusing on the ride that follows. You are already in it, mentally. Don't wait for a near collision to shock you into paying attention. Start your mind early. On the road, concentration is your lifeline. Being skilled and not concentrating is the same as lacking skills." (The link to the article is here)

2. Having read some books on Advanced Driving Skills a long time back, I adopted one technique they use to keep their mind on the driving. Its about giving a running commentary of your changing environment as you ride. Feels kind of silly talking to yourself inside the helmet but then don't most of us sing to ourselves while riding. A typical half kilometer of urban road riding would sound like this:

"I am doing 60 in 5th in the middle lane. There's a blue Ikon in front of me, a truck 100 yards ahead to the left going slow, a pedestrian standing on the divider waiting to cross, watch him, there's a cut in the divider ahead, the pedestrian is good, the Ikon speeding up, a car coming in from right at the cut, chop throttle and get ready for braking, no, he's stopped and waiting for me, back on throttle and up to 65, strange the Ikon fella didn't even touch his brakes on seeing the oncoming car, was a greater threat to him, a Santro closing in fast from behind, right lane, check left mirror and move a little left to give him way, he's past and wow! he's fast, approaching stop light, chop throttle, downshift through the gears, a biggish gap between the Santro and the Ikon and I can get right in front. 27 secs to go for green, relax your hands and feet.......

...and so on. Nothing like a little angel right next to your ear reminding you in your own voice what you are doing here and now.

This commentry thing seems quite a task in itself in the beginning, apparently requiring an appreciable chunk of your RAM and so it is imperative that you start with the exercise in light traffic and don't bother about the language. Hindi, English...whatever is your mother tongue....and can be colorful with choice expletives. The point is to speak what you see so that your own voice doesn't let your mind idle for long enough for it to drift. Over time, you'll start doing this mentally and you'll realise that you almost 'unconsciously' maintain constant and consistent focus. You've taught your mind the habit of concentrating!

3. Emotional stress, lack of sleep and alcohol. The brain reacts to these three almost identically and so the consequences on your concentration are also the same. Avoid riding with any one, two or all three of these inside you. All three loath work and love rest. They'll make you rest eventually, only that it'll probably be in a ditch or in a hospital.

Remember : while riding your PRIME RESPONSIBILITY is to maintain control of your motorcycle.

As for some other interesting aspects on improving vision and knowing the role of the sub-conscious (what is unfashionably called Intuition), just make use of a couple of write-ups I had put in Hard Torque section quite some time ago.

Seeing is Riding

I Somehow 'Knew' it


And meanwhile, ride long and safe...

OF

WOW, so this is in the books then. Pls send me those titles pal, if you don't mind. I do this without this theory since 2004/05. I go one step more & try to notice the vehicle's registration number or try to read them - ONLY WHEN I know for sure that everything is OK around me. I look equally between the front, left mirror & right mirrors, apply minimal braking, gear changes & mostly control my rides/drives with acceleration/deceleration.

Your article on Mind Reading is impressive, I think I'll need much more than what I've asked you with the books.

Thanks a lot OF Sir, Your way of explaining the things has always been marvelous with proper information in detail.Will be going through the "Hard Torque" after this .

Will generally happen when your are looking straight ahead for extended period of time. I ride daily on highway at gentle cruising speed. Its very easy to drift away in my own world in this situation, so I try to keep myself occupied by looking around, like the rear view mirror, the car on the left in front, the bush besides the road etc. when dreaming, you wouldn't even notice what types or colour of cars, buses, trucks, bikes that are on the road. Try to notice notice such things.

Distracted during riding: Please help

These days I get to ride my bike only for 2 months in a year, when I go home during my semester vacations. The rest of the 5 months of each semester are spent in daydreaming about my short but enjoyable rides back home, and of course, reading plenty of travelogues and discussions on xBhp!

So what I have observed during my riding, is that a lot of it is a direct reflection of the thoughts going on in my mind. If I'm relaxed, or pumped up, my driving will be smooth and a bit aggressive, respectively. On the other hand, if I'm upset, or sad, chances are I'll be distracted, riding a lot slower, and there will be some "Oh hell, where did that truck come from?!" moments!

Now what bothers me is that I'm in a risky situation here. It is quite difficult for me to control my thoughts while riding. Distractions are dangerous while on the road. There have been one or two occasions when I have become so distracted, that I immediately turned around and went back home.

So, I need some help on how to put all my thoughts aside while riding. I need some advice on how to concentrate only on the road, drive calmly and without any distractions.
Please help.

Topic approved.

Here're 2 cents from my end that's applicable to both drives & rides...
Keep your vehicle clean - A cleaner vehicle gives a cool good look. Just clean the dust before you take out every time. Atleast, clean the RVM's, tank, seats & speedo's, so that, the visible things on the ride appears to be clean overall. Mentally a clean vehicle gives a sense of pride that our vehicle is cleanest one on the road (it might not be applicable in the west, but for sure in this country)

Be Prepare Mentally - Before taking out the ride everytime, say or go through in the mind that reaching the destination safely is the objective. Never think about anything what you will be doing after you reach the destination. Eg, never think about the pending work or getting through the interview or the outcome of the bet match etc. Envision yourself that you're parking the vehicle at the destination & removing the riding gears in case of motorcycles or safely locking the car.

Most importantly, say this several times that you're the BEST MATURED rider/driver in your town/village/city & you have a lot more patience, experience & knowledge than anyone & you're the first one to forgive anything on the road.

NEVER think about any disaster before the ride, like accident to even a flat tire. Hitch a plan for measure for such consequences at leisure & not before the ride/drive.

The Ride - During the ride, just do only the following & nothing else; look at Left RVM, Right RVM & Straight. Never ride faster than you can think or take judgement. There're at times such things happen & during that time, just pullover, or pullover to extreme left & ride slow until you gain confidence.

After Ride - When parking, ensure that you've placed the bike firmly on the stand at the safest possible place. Remember the direction in which its being parked & any near by marks such as name of shop or light post number or any marking on the wall.

Try and maintain a steady pace, it helps in concentrating on the road and traffic.


+100 and Thanks for reminding.

When you pull over, take a few deep breathes. That is breathe in, hold it, count till ten and let it out slowly for five counts. Then have plenty of water. That should bring back your focus easily.

Thank you, everyone! I found all the points mentioned quite helpful. I'll definitely keep all of them in mind next time I ride.
Hope I don't get distracted again on the road. If I feel my thoughts are wandering some day, and I cant control them despite my best efforts, I'll avoid riding that day, and till I'm back with full concentration.

@ Mods -there is a same thread posted earlier for which i was the victim ,can be merged with that,Thanks
http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/help-me/...le-riding.html

Thanks! I went through that thread now. It felt a lot reassuring to know that I'm not the only one who has such thoughts while riding!

When I went though my breakup with my only gf of 3 years back in 2008, even while riding I always used to think about what I will say to her, what apology she might accept or what should I do to repatch up.
But due to God's grace, many times I used to wake up just in the nick of time, and so, I avoided many accidents.

My only accident that ever happened, costed me my right arm bone which is still recovering.
That wasn't due to thinking, but due to someone who kept his headlights off.