Wheeling biker to discuss life without cars

Ever since she was a child, feeling the wind in her hair and adventure in the air while riding her bike was "it" for Joanie Kozak.

"All my life, I've had a passion for biking," Kozak said. "To go cross-country would be heaven."

Born into a large family, with one car to share, biking was often the only option for Kozak to get from point A to point B.

"I used to drive my parents nuts," she said. "I'd get on my bike and disappear all day. Once, the sheriff called and told them they had better come get me because I was out in the middle of nowhere. I kinda got lost; that's me."

Kozak explained that biking was just a natural state for her. She was always on the forefront of the latest equipment.

"I was one of the first people to get a mountain bike," she said. "Of course, I rode the old Schwinn bikes, which are collector's items now. I've used performance bikes. If it's a bike, I've ridden it. My main bike now is a Trek Cyclocross, which I've modified."

Originally from Pennsylvania, Kozak has biked from the East Coast to the West Coast. She found Portland, Ore., to be the most bike-friendly city.

"I've biked the mountains of New York, the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, and all the prairies in between," she says. "I usually bike between 6,000 to 8,000 miles a year."

Not all those journeys have been without incident. Kozak once saw a tornado off in the distance while biking in Nebraska. She's also had to dodge deer in her path, as well as carry her transportation when winter storms forbid passage.

Now, at age 57, two-wheeling it is not only recreational, but a lifestyle for the Wheeling resident.

She doesn't even own a car and uses her bike to get to her job as a product specialist for an Internet company, 8 miles from her house.

She also uses her bike to travel from Wheeling to Palatine to attend church. It's also a common sight to see her hauling groceries and other supplies on her bike. In fact, off and on for the past 20 years, and more recently since December, Kozak has totally forsaken automobiles.

"I am a very environmentally conscious person," Kozak said. "I don't like what cars do to the environment and what they do to people."

Kozak is taking her lifetime of experience in bicycling to help others. On Saturday at 1 p.m., she will give a presentation at the Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church's biking safety clinic.

"Rainbow Friends, which is a group that supports all church members, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, holds events usually once a month," said Kay Gredell of Countryside. "They are sponsoring this clinic."

The clinic will cover several topics including safety information, concerns for proper equipment, proper fit, healthy riding and the environmental advantages of riding.

"The hope is that those who attend will learn tips for safety and the rules of the road," Gredell said. "They should also learn about biking in general and how much fun it can be."

If you go

What: Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church's biking safety clinic

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church, 1025 N. Smith Road, Palatine

Cost: Free

For more information: ccuu.org or (847) 359-8440

Biking safety tips

• Only experienced bikers should ride in traffic

• Proper training in operating the bike is essential

• Helmets are a must

• Avoid riding at night, and if doing so, be visible through reflectors and lights

• Use quality equipment

• Know your skill level