Karen has a passion for biking around Chicago! Get to know more about Karen in this Q&A.
Tell us your bike story. How did you get into biking? What kind of biking do you do? How do you stay motivated? Do you have any bike goals for 2019?
I rediscovered biking in 2014 when I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Since then I have tried hard, sometimes successfully and sometimes not so, to ride my bike everywhere and to stay healthy. I have been known to bike whenever the weather is decent, even in the winter. My goal this summer is to get back up to the miles that I biked 2 summers ago and to get my health in a better place by doing so.
Two words that best describe how biking makes you feel.
Young and Free.
Where do you live? What are some of your favorite places to bike there?
Rogers Park. I love riding with the Evanston Bike Club on their weekend casual rides, avg. 30 miles per ride. Riding, Lunch, and Socializing are the best.
What do you do to make biking better where you live?
Support and Volunteer for biking events especially those that involve the EBC
A suggestion for people interested in biking but have safety concerns? Or, how did you get comfortable with using your bike for transportation?
I LOVE riding in the city, though most of my friends do not. I follow bike rules and make sure I always have a helmet on. I even follow street direction signs and try not to ride the wrong way on a one-way street.
Tips for dealing with helmet hair?
I usually carry a comb in my PoCampo Bike bag and don't worry too much about it since everyone I ride with also has helmet hair.
If you could take a bike vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why?
Back to the Netherlands! I loved that biking is so easy there and the scenery is sweet smelling.
Tell us about a time you surprised yourself by accomplishing something that you previously thought impossible or super hard.
I rode from Chicago to Milwaukee and raised approx $500 for charity. It was the longest ride I have ever done.
What do you like most about your Po Campo bag?
I LOVE colorful bags, they speak out to my personality, so other riders know before speaking to me that I am outgoing
How do you describe Po Campo to friends - or - what do you think is special about Po Campo?
I love that they go from my bike to my body! Because I am a diabetic I need to carry more than others when riding, which my panniers & trunks allow me to do but best of all I can also carry my knitting, my 2nd love.
What are you hoping to accomplish/contribute as a Po Campo brand ambassador this year?
To show that PoCampo bags are for all ages and can be used for more than just biking.
Interested in becoming a Po Campo Brand Ambassador? Applications now open for our 2019 Brand Ambassador program. - apply now!
