“Riding Along with Rob” is a new release from Australian filmmaker Mick Turnbull that tells the story of how cycling has played an instrumental role in helping his friend Rob, a veteran, chart a path forward through mental health struggles. Watch it here…

Words and video by Mick Turnbull, photos by Mick Turnbull and Rob McDowell

I met Rob 10 years ago, when he first started cycling, only a few years after I’d started. I always felt Rob had a story to tell and wisdom to share about how he has navigated life post-military. About a year ago, I suggested making a cycling film together. He sat with the idea for a while before agreeing, emphasising that his main reason for doing it was to share a message with others.

Riding Along with Rob

If it helped even one person struggling with mental health, it would be worth being filmed discovering that sanitary pads have many practical purposes beyond their original design. It was both courageous and generous for Rob to share his journey, and a sign of our friendship that he humoured (and encouraged) me to film him along the way.

Riding Along with Rob follows Rob, a 60-year-old veteran who took up cycling a decade ago to support his mental health. The film traces his first major bikepacking journey: a 450-kilometre section of the Tassie Traverse along Tasmania’s East Coast. As Rob rides, he shares how cycling became part of his recovery, helping him meet each day’s physical and mental challenges with perseverance and laughter.

Riding Along with Rob
  • Riding Along with Rob
  • Riding Along with Rob
  • Riding Along with Rob

This is a story about an ordinary bloke having a go. It’s not about winning, racing, or chasing firsts; it’s about showing up, day after day, and tackling what always feels like the hardest hill so far. Through gravel roads, long days, and quiet moments, Rob’s journey captures what bikepacking can offer beyond the kilometres: space to reflect and to learn about yourself.

The Route

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