Video: Skate Park Style on a DH Bike in 'Going All In'

Dec 14, 2018
by Nico Turner  
Views: 26,417    Faves: 420    Comments: 19



It's here, 6 months in the making and we're both super stoked to be putting out this 9 minute beast. Have a watch to hear Rob's story, a classic skate park rider who turned to riding downhill bikes in a bid to stave off a long term knee injury. Needless to say, he didn't hold back. It's been a lot of work and as you saw pretty punishing on Rob's knees, see his full write up below that delves into more detail about the injury and what went into making his trail.






Photo credit Scott Windsor
ROB WELCH'S
STORY
Photo Credit: Scott Windsor


Words by Rob:

Medically put – I have chondromalacia patella in both my knees… which simply put means they hurt... Essentially the cartilage on the underside of my kneecaps has worn away - anything that involves jumping or putting weight through the joint hurts. It started in my left knee in August 2014, the right knee followed a month or two later – a pointless operation came next, and the realisation that there isn’t anything you can do to fix it soon became apparent, at least for now – I’m banking on them printing me some new knee caps in 10 years or something.

The transition to the big bike was pretty natural; riding skate park teaches you an awful lot of bike control which really helps when it comes to learning the ropes on a heavier, longer, less nimble bike. The weirdest thing to get used to is the 200mm of suspension, and length of the bike.. But once you learn to use the suspension to generate pop, and adapt the way you carve takeoffs to compliment the length of the bike, the tricks start to feel a lot more natural. With 4 years under my belt on the DH bike, I feel just as comfortable on it as I ever have on my hard tail.


Photo by Scott Windsor
Photo Credit: Scott Windsor


The “slope line” was a project which I spent all of my free time building; whenever I wasn’t studying at university I was up the woods digging. It was a crazy juggling act, but earlier this year I came away from the University of Lincoln as the best student at the business school, and the “slopeline” worked out perfectly right from the get go - all those variables, be it speed, trajectory, gradient, all lined up perfectly. If I do something, I do it 100%, and that line is just the product of that mentality – all in I would put it at around 400 hours of work… all by hand, with a few helping hands here and there.


photo


My favourite feature on the line is probably the first step up. It’s a 10-foot lip with a slow transition which makes is super fun on the DH bike; it boots you to the moon! I love the quarter pipe too. Airing a DH bike is super awkward but I always have a smile on my face afterward. It kinda feels like you did something that isn’t supposed to work?

Photo by Thomas Gaffney
Photo credit:Thomas Gaffney


Jamie Brown is a good friend of mine who is super talented on a bike! Our riding/ digging styles are hugely contrasting and it really makes for an awesome combination. So when I set out to make this new project I knew straight away that I had to get Jamie in on it too. His line is super tight, keeping you on your toes at all times - if you lose concentration it will catch you out… as we, unfortunately, know all too well. A local trail squirrel couldn’t handle the stoke that Jamie and his trail bring, and unfortunately passed away amidst the shralped berms and subsequent splatters of Peaty’s sealant – It only seemed right to pay homage to the fallen soldier by granting him immortal glory… Jamie named the trail “dead squirrel”.


photo
Photo Credit: Nico Turner


After a few years away from the skate parks/ dirt jumps, I got a BMX to mess around on. I’d never had one before and I didn’t feel obliged to take it too seriously. Mentally I was content just having the odd session here and there whilst catching up with mates. But then the frustration came; I just couldn’t ride the damn thing like I wanted to! I was struggling to do things which were easy to me on the hardtail, and it got to the point where I realised that I was just kidding myself with the BMX – Now 25 years old, I had matured to the point where I felt like I could get back on the hardtail with nothing to prove. Yeah, my knee’s hurt, but I just ride it in amounts that I can manage… And I’m content with that.


Photo Credit Adam Lievesley
Photo Credit: Adam Lievesley


I can’t think of a time that I have enjoyed my riding more than I do right now, my injuries just mean that I make the most of the time I can ride. My entire life has revolved around riding since I can remember, and the injuries are just a part of the journey… To quote the film "I guess at this point, I’m all in."




Thanks for taking the time to read Rob's story, we hope it has left you with the desire to get out on your bike and build/ride whatever you love. A big thank you from Nico & Rob and a special thanks to our sponsors, we'll see you for the next one.

Sponsors:
Chromag Bikes | Creation Cycles | Peaty's Products | Simply Insure

Video by:
Rob Welch | Nico Turner Video | Live To Ride | Jamie Brown


MENTIONS: @Nico-T


Posted In:
Videos


Author Info:
Nico-T avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2008
40 articles

89 Comments
  • 39 0
 Epic ride and great video! I think in the end of the video this TR500 said something like "BUY A NEW ONE". This vid made my day, thanks!
  • 14 0
 Over two years and still going strong mate. Awesome bikes.
  • 8 0
 @Robmtb16: sick riding man. Awesome to watch and you're right about the bikes. Still raggin an old 450.
  • 2 0
 @NebulousNate: Cheers bud!
  • 6 1
 This dude could be a contender at elite slopestyle events with a touch more experience on big boy jumps. Unreal video and style.
  • 2 0
 @Robmtb16: Great riding Rob! Loved the video
  • 1 0
 @Robmtb16: seriously, that was one of the best videos I've seen in a long time.
  • 18 0
 When I go ALL IN, I always lose. This guy is WINNING!
  • 9 0
 Well this was hands down one of the most impressive showreel of skills I’ve ever seen and that means something! Probably going to be downvoted a lot for saying that his riding imho makes the last semenuk edits look stale...
  • 5 0
 Not to take anything from Semenuk but this was a refreshing change of pace/style.
  • 1 0
 I couldn't agree more. Take my up-vote.
  • 12 0
 Sick lines, sick moves, sick edit. 99/10!
  • 8 0
 Dang this is awesome. At 33, I feel his pain as I'm a candidate for both knees being replaced due to lack of cartilage from many injuries (although mine is meniscus related). At this age doc's won't do a knee replacement due to inferior materials wearing too quickly. DH is about the only bike discipline that's ok on them at this point (have had to give up snowboarding unfortunately).

I've been looking hard and researching a lot about stem cells. Likely going to go that route and hopefully get another 20 years out of them if things go as planned, which will open up old opportunities and allow me to add more bikes to the quiver!

Incredible riding too. Fighting through the pain then riding at this level is something else.
  • 7 0
 its really one of the least spoken about but best things about dh riding. i had a great summer of ripping on my dh bike, but as soon as I got on snow i was reminded that i have some pretty serious knee and back problems still - i had almost completely forgotten about them riding my plush enduro/dh bikes. my dad is 62 with multiple surgeries on both knees but you wouldn't know it watching him rip whistler bike park on his dh bike.
  • 1 0
 @Albatrosse: when the forces are straight up and down my knees can take it. ride/ski all day no problem. My knees hate when the forces are swirling all around like when hiking or running. I realized on uneven ground I was putting pressure on the outside of my right foot. I didn't realize this bad habit I developed from a foot injury was effecting my knee. I was essentially walking wrong. when I concentrated on pushing through the ball of my foot and keeping the forces vertical its fine. good luck!
  • 8 0
 wow. best vid ive seen for a time. hes like a ballerina in the skate park just over half way through
  • 7 0
 I never comment but this video is the best I have watched in a LONG time. Nice work.
  • 9 0
 damn. so good!
  • 3 0
 This was awesome. I'm in a position where I'm entering my 30's with a bad lingering hip injury that has been wearing on my mind almost as much as the joint pain. As old-young-guys it crucial to stay fit and adapt our riding to keep it fun. Thanks for the inspiration.
  • 1 0
 you can get that hip replaced over a weekend, let it heal up good, and you set for another 20.
  • 15 11
 Your average Down Country Strava hero: I thought that if I get all the KOMs I will ride like that. I wasted my life - kills himself by unscrewing Öhlins top cap pointing at his eye socket...
  • 7 0
 Over two years and still going strong mate! Awesome bikes.
  • 14 0
 Wrong post ????????‍♂️
  • 5 0
 Honestly don’t think 10mins can do his riding justice. His insta is full on absolute relentless bangers.
  • 4 0
 Genuinely original and well executed video, excellent work Rob and Nico! And Jamie ????
  • 1 0
 There is so much talent out there, two things amaze me; first off the fact that I've never heard of Rob Welch, He's unbelievable and secondly that of all that talent being spread around I got exactly F**k all. Great video guys, look forward to many more...please.
  • 4 0
 Been waiting a while for this one Nico! Well worth the wait! Incredible work from both you and Rob. So sick!
  • 3 1
 Really good riding, absolute beast. However...I thought his knees were knackered, seemed just fine boosting airs on his hardtail in the skatepark (720, flare to manual, etc..)
  • 4 0
 This is one of the best bike handling videos ever on pinkbike. Well done dude
  • 5 0
 Killed it!????????
  • 2 0
 Yes.
  • 4 0
 Fantastic boys, making good use use of the flatlands!
  • 4 0
 This is so insane! Great motivation to go ride bike! Big Grin
  • 3 0
 Problem I have last few times I went all in I ended up with 3 boys ....haha
  • 4 0
 That was sick.,
  • 4 0
 Beautiful!
  • 1 0
 Ya know, maybe using a full squish slope bike would help with your knees at the dirt jumps/skate parks/indoor bike parks.
Just an idea
  • 2 0
 Smashed it Nico!!!!! Big up the men behind the lenses. Also I'm gonna dream about that flair to manual Smile
  • 3 1
 Unbelievably good on all fronts. As rad as big old set of naked tits this. Take a bow man.
  • 2 0
 One hand, one foot, to table. You don't see many of those. That turn with the water in is awesome haha.
  • 2 0
 patiently waiting for kade edwards to start riding like this during world cup races
  • 3 0
 That tree photo is amazeballs
  • 3 0
 Flipping out here
  • 3 0
 Well worth the wait Rob.
  • 2 0
 What tricks!! Dude, you are beast!
  • 1 0
 Awesome video! Love the impact Rob has had on the local scene with his build and inspirational and next level ridding!
  • 2 0
 Awesome video! Really well put together. Sick riding as well
  • 1 0
 Edits like this makes we wish that a full length film is in the works! So awesome
  • 1 0
 What an eye opener! You and Dylan Stark are really gems and two gems in one month is a a miracle!
  • 2 0
 I'm here to say that Thomas Gaffney's pic is amazing
  • 2 0
 sick riding level!!
  • 1 0
 Shit yeah boys! That was dope
  • 1 0
 One foot tabes were solid.
  • 1 0
 So good! What's the song at 6:30?
  • 1 0
 Soo GOOOOD!!!
Any help finding The Funky Monkey track? Killer tune
  • 1 0
 Video of the year for shure!
Props for all who are involved tup
  • 1 0
 DOOPE video guys, you killed it!!
  • 1 0
 2:36, might be the sickest style i've ever seen
  • 1 0
 Props dude I know all about knee issues, Way to Persevere!
  • 1 0
 Keep it up Rob...SICK riding, and with Style too!!!!
  • 2 0
 #robforrampage19
  • 1 0
 this is the best film I have ever seen
  • 1 0
 Really really fucking good
  • 1 0
 A few world firsts I believe!!
  • 1 0
 freaking awesome - more soon?
  • 1 0
 Sooo good!!! Especially that tight trail
  • 1 0
 So good! Want to call in sick and ride now
  • 1 0
 Hands down one the best stories I've watched on here in a while.
  • 1 0
 Awesome stuff guys!
  • 1 0
 Awesome edit !
  • 1 0
 Top stuff!!!!!
  • 1 0
 amazing edit keep it up
  • 1 0
 Fantastic!
  • 1 0
 Loved this!
  • 1 0
 Killing it!
  • 1 1
 Man what a fucking great video n dude!!
  • 1 0
 Power RAD.
  • 1 1
 Absolute heat! Big up all involved
  • 1 0
 Yeah Rob that was rad!
  • 1 2
 Such an inspiration!!
  • 1 2
 Best
  • 1 2
 Motivational
  • 1 2
 Video
  • 1 2
 Ever!!!
  • 3 0
 Such an inspiration!! The Video Motivational Best Ever!!! that's how your comment chain appeared to me







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