Cycling / cycling
Meet the #BristolBikeBard, who is writing poems about the city’s finest oddities
Bristol is filled with many little wonders which can be easy to forget about in hectic day-to-day life.
But Caroline Burrows has been taking time to experience all the oddities of the city.
Caroline, who has named herself the #BristolBikeBard, says: “There are so many things to notice locally, whether it be historical locations, oddly named streets, or changes in nature, that it’s helped me really appreciate Bristol in many new and wonderful ways.
is needed now More than ever
As well as a poet, Caroline is 47-year-old former teacher. Having moved away from the city to take a Masters she moved to east Bristol in September 2020.
Since returning to the city she has combined her love of cycling and poetry to become the #BristolBikeBard.
“When I lived in Bristol before, I think I took my local area for granted,” she says.
“However, now with all the normal entertainment venues being unfortunately closed, combined with the necessity to stay closer to home, it’s pushed me to better notice my surroundings.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMu7Uiylxin/
Caroline has been posting her verses to Instagram and has begun turning them into spoken word compilations on her YouTube channel.
She has been taking time out of every day since October 4, 2020 to ride her bike and write a verse, stating that the project has helped both her mental and physical health.
The short, three line, stanza’s describe many of the peculiar sights Caroline finds within the city, she visits places such as Thomas Chatterton’s birthplace and disused brass mills of Bristol’s industrial past.
“I love cycling and poetry and often combine these two passions, I spend most of my days glued to my laptop writing, so this endeavour has pushed me to get outside and have some exercise even if only for a short ride,” she says.
“I also struggle at times with anxiety and depression, which social isolation doesn’t help, so getting out on my bike benefits not just my body but also my mental health.”
The project has also helped her find new ways to beat the social isolation, saying: “Even though the pandemic continues to keep everyone socially distanced, this endeavour has helped keep me connected with friends online who’ve suggested curious Bristol locations for me to write about, and I’ve even made new friends online because of it too!”
Main photo: Caroline Burrows
Read more: ‘Cycling isn’t just about getting around, it’s another way of looking at the world’
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