Kelly’s Korner: The Value of Confidence
Last Updated: June 3rd, 2022
What is the value of confidence? I’d argue it’s difficult to put a price on the concept, the feeling, yet worth considering.
Here’s an anecdote to go along with that. When I crashed in 2008 at the Grand Canyon, I did so in my custom leathers and my Chris Vermeulen Shoei helmet. At first I had balked over spending that much money on riding gear. But forking out $2,000 ended up saving thousands more in medical bills, and insurance covered a new helmet. Just as important, that entire experience taught me the value of riding in gear and with more discernment. I have developed into a more confident rider who pays attention to how she feels and, as a result, to how she rides, and to how street strategies are applied for safe motorcycling. Riding is too potentially dangerous for us not to tune in to our mental and physical states, and adjust as needed. I now have the confidence to ride my own ride.
The understanding above marks a big change from when I first got on a bike. Then, I was shaking and had zero confidence in my capacity to handle even a tiny 125. I wasn’t the first, I won’t be the last. I also felt I had to keep pace with my friends who had been riding far longer than me. That frame of mind will not end well. I am glad to say that taking classes over the years, going to track days, and simply remaining open to new ideas and old basics contributes to a level of confidence I never thought possible. I’ve also written before about how great it feels when the confidence that comes from riding seeps into everyday life. It’s quite a journey and one that I would love to see more people, especially women, experience. To start to gain that confidence, though, I had to overcome the inclination to see riding — gear, classes, time on the bike — in dollar terms only. I had to recognize the intangible benefits that no one will ever be able to take from me.
On that note, what is confidence worth to you? What is the confidence of someone you love worth to you? A little time, a little money? If the answer is yes, I encourage you to check out the Arizona Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Foundation (AMSAF) event, “Riding for the Long Haul,” in Glendale on March 7. The aim is to educate more people on motorcycle safety and reduce fatalities. That’s why admission is free but proceeds from the raffle will go toward the underwriting motorcycle training scholarships. At the same time, AMSAF will give away 20 Basic Rider Course scholarships. If you’ve ever wanted to ramp up your confidence level on a bike, this is a great chance. Same goes if you’ve ever wanted to pay it forward as a rider.
Check out “Riding for the Long Haul” on Saturday. In addition to the raffle, a precision rider will perform every hour, vendors will be on hand with booths, guest speakers will talk about motorcycle safety, and there will be food trucks and music. Above all, there’s the value of knowing that at least 20 more confidence riders will emerge as a result. Hard to place a dollar value on that.
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