Now and Next

You go where you look.

They say the eyes are the doorway to the soul… but I like to think of them as the doorway out of it, too. 

Our eyes don’t just see; they lead us into sight, which then shapes perception, which then expands into experience—concentric circles rippling outward to guide how we move through the world. The eyes aren’t just passive observers; they’re active participants in this exchange, a threshold where the internal meets the external, where we begin to interpret and interact with everything around us.

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

On the trail, this interplay between sight and experience becomes even more pronounced. Sight is a dominant sense that anchors us to the terrain, working in harmony with our other senses to guide how we navigate the ride. Yet, we often engage our senses passively—absorbing information and reacting to it without intention. But when we actively engage our sight—choosing deliberately where to look and how to interpret what we see—we shift from being reactive riders to intentional ones. Our sight turns to vision. 

Vision helps us not just interact with the trail, but connect with it. It anchors us to the present while drawing us forward to the next moment. It’s how we find our line through the rocks and roots, anticipate the turns ahead, and adjust to whatever lies just out of sight. When we learn to look with intention, it gives us the confidence to move smoothly through the trail, stay centered in the present moment, and prepare for what’s to come.

In episode 5, we broke down the skill of vision. Here’s how you can start honing this essential skill on your next ride.¹

Here’s what we’ve talked about so far:

Now and next: Balance the present with the future.

Vision on the trail is about balance—balancing what’s right in front of you with what lies ahead. “Now” vision focuses on immediate obstacles like rocks, roots, or tight turns that demand quick attention. “Next” vision, on the other hand, looks a few seconds ahead, helping you anticipate upcoming dips, climbs, or corners. As Jamie explained in the episode, finding flow depends on your ability to shift seamlessly between these two perspectives. If you focus too much on “Now,” you risk overreacting to every detail, which can lead to hesitation or mistakes. By training yourself to alternate between “Now” and “Next,” you stay more responsive and adaptable, keeping your movements smooth and intuitive. 

It’s a dance, people. Do both, a lot. 

Object fixation: Notice, don’t focus.

One of the most common challenges riders face is object fixation—getting so focused on an obstacle that you unintentionally steer right into it. Instead, the key is to practice noticing the obstacle without locking your focus on it. Glance at it briefly to register its position, then immediately shift your gaze beyond it, toward where you want to go. Noticing allows you to be aware of the obstacle without letting it dictate your movements. As Jamie points out, “Your bike naturally follows your eyes.” By looking past the obstacle, you guide your bike to flow smoothly around it, maintaining control and confidence. Breaking the habit of fixation takes time and practice, but it’s essential for navigating technical terrain with fluidity and ease.

You go where you look. Don’t look at big scary things for too long.

Speed determines vision: Look further when you’re going faster.

How far ahead you need to look depends on how fast you’re going. The faster you ride, the further ahead your focus needs to be. On steep descents or fast singletrack, keeping your eyes locked too close to your front wheel creates a disorienting, jittery experience. Instead, widen your gaze and allow your peripheral vision to pick up the immediate trail while your focus stays further ahead. Jamie emphasized this, saying, “The faster you’re going, the further ahead you need to look.” This practice not only improves your control but also helps you anticipate and react to the trail with confidence.

Following a line: Maintain responsibility for your vision.

When riding behind someone, it can be tempting to focus too closely on their line rather than scanning your own. I often struggle with this (I noticed it just a couple of weeks ago!), and it’s hard to keep my vision ahead when someone else is making decisions in front of me. Following someone’s line can be helpful, but it’s essential to maintain your own focus—especially if the person ahead has a different skill level. Adjust your gaze to “look through” the rider in front, so you maintain awareness of both your own position and the broader trail ahead. 

By keeping your eyes on the broader trail, you stay aware of your own positioning and can adjust based on your unique skill level and flow. Following a line isn’t about copying someone else’s movements—your vision should be your own.

Technical terrain: Don’t let fear steal your vision.

In technical terrain—rock gardens, steep descents, tight switchbacks—fear has a sneaky way of hijacking your vision. When faced with intimidating features, it’s natural to let your eyes lock onto the obstacle you’re most afraid of, but this fixation only reinforces doubt. Fear directs your focus to what you want to avoid rather than where you want to go, disrupting your flow and making the terrain feel harder than it is.

Jamie explained it well: “Your eyes need to pick a path that aligns with your ability, not your fear.” This means deliberately shifting your focus away from what’s intimidating and toward the line you trust yourself to ride. In technical sections, the trail often offers multiple paths; scanning ahead gives you the space to identify the option that matches your skill and confidence.

The relationship between vision and fear is all about trust—trusting your gaze to lead you through and resisting the urge to overanalyze. By choosing where to look intentionally, you take back control from fear and let your instincts guide you. With practice, even the most daunting features become opportunities to build confidence and flow.

Cue it!

Here are some “quick cues” you can use while riding to help train your vision on the trail:

• “Now and next.” Keep your eyes moving between the immediate and the next. This keeps your focus balanced and adaptable.

• “Look through.” If you’re following someone, aim to look through them rather than at them, so you keep a wider view of the trail.

• “Notice not focus.” In technical sections, glance at an obstacle, then shift your gaze beyond it to help maintain flow.

• “Further with speed.” As your speed increases, consciously lift your gaze further down the trail. This helps you anticipate and adjust more fluidly.

Practice Makes… Skillful.

Rather than listing an admittedly vapid list of “drills” that basically tell you just to practice all of these things on a trail, I’m going to challenge you to practice this stuff off your bike this week. Around your house, notice how you’re noticing things. Notice how it’s different when you’re moving through a new space that you’ve never seen before. How often are you falling prey to object fixation? When are you mindlessly following someone, and what are you looking at? How often are you actually staring at your phone in all of these scenarios? 🥴

Pay attention to r how you pay attention, and pay extra attention to how your sight/vision plays into this! 

I hope this brings clarity to your rides this weekend! Keep an eye out for a follow-up post, where we’ll dive into how these concepts translate to life off the bike. As always, I’d love to hear how it goes. See you, see you.

– Danielle

1. This post has been created with the help of AI and drew only on the original content from episode 5. The audio, though, is all me, baby.