Don't get to hung up on the looking ahead though Tim. You do have to spot hazards directly in front of you in addition to everywhere else.
A friend of mine dumped his bike in a slow speed turn in an intersection. I asked him what happened and he said he hit a patch of sand. I asked why he did not see it and he told me the instructors at the MSF told him to keep his head level and eyes out front. He NEVER looked down!
I told him you have to scan everywhere, including right in front of you. Just don't keep staring at right in front of you. He's now getting better at it and has not gone down since.
