Ex BMX and 4X racer, and now Head of Sales at Fisher Outdoor Leisure, distributors of brands such as SRAM, RockShox, Troy Lee Designs, Muc-Off and many more, Martin Murray is in-deep when it comes to bikes.
Photos: Ben Winder (main) and Martin’s Twitter account!
He was one of a batch of super fast and super stylish riders that made the (sometimes brief) crossover from BMX to mountainbiking in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, mainly racing 4X. They were chasing the money… ha! You have to remember that back then the two tribes were still quite separate, but these riders brought a new energy and flair to mountain biking… and Dirt was loving it. It only seems like yesterday, but that was over 15 years ago now.
We’re proud that Martin is kicking off this new series of Endtroducing online for us… and for those of you that don’t know what Endtroducing is, well it is our look at the people behind the scenes in the bike industry. Not the racers or big time pros, we are talking mechanics, photographers, race organisers, etc. You’ll find a whole load of old ones from the mag here.
Who is Martin Murray?
A 37 year old who only really gets to ride his bike on a weekend these days.
Where do you live?
Devon, I love it.
What’s your job title?
Head of Sales at Fisher Outdoor Leisure.
What do you do?
Now you’ve got me thinking because I’ve done it for so long that I just sort of do it rather than actually think about it. I suppose ultimately I help develop our selling strategies and then ensure our sales team have all the tools and resources possible to help them to hit their sales budgets.
How long have you worked for Fishers?
14 years.
How did you land the job?
I totally blagged a sales reps role at Fisher by saying that I’d been a sales rep for my friend Chico Hooke’s clothing company 2&8. If you can call selling a few t-shirts to a local bike shop sales rep experience then that’s what I did! I think it was probably my enthusiasm that really got me the job. I was the youngest rep they’d ever taken on at 23.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I’ve only really been a BMX racer or worked at Fisher, both pretty awesome jobs really.
Where’s your favourite place?
Dartmouth. Even after spending so much time in California, I’m lucky that my favourite place to be is just a couple of miles from my home.
Where’s your favourite place to ride?
Without doubt the best sessions I’ve ever had would have been both at Sheep Hills and at (Jay) Aliano’s. Good times with good people at good trails.
When are you happiest?
On a Saturday morning with a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich in hand watching the kids messing about around the house. I never feel more alive when I’m out riding my bike though, especially when I’m just on the edge scaring myself.
What makes you angry?
Nothing really.
What makes you happy?
Family, riding my bike, and when we’re winning at work.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Troy Lee has a pretty awesome saying he uses with his designers, “if you don’t love it, don’t do it”. I like that a lot, it can be applied to anything in life.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?
Control the Controllables.
What are your extravagances?
I don’t really have any. I was just talking to my friend Marco Delisola the other day about how tight we are when it comes to buying clothing in that we only really buy stuff when it’s on offer. Not only that but we wait to go to Cali to buy it on offer over there so it’s a double saving! What a tight arse.
Who do you admire?
Anyone who works hard to achieve their dreams. I think people like Peaty, Lopes, Bestwick, Jamie Staff, Dale Holmes are rare and exceptional in that they are or were at the top of their game for an incredibly long period of time. I once read a pretty cool quote from Tim March (BMX/MTB/media legend) that said ‘on a daily basis elite athletes put their mind and body into places that most ordinary folk spend a lifetime avoiding’. The guys above did this for years and years and years, which is pretty special. I’ve read and listened to a lot of leadership stuff by Dave Brailsford (former Performance Director at British Cycling and currently General Manager at Team Sky) who I find to be an incredibly ruthless leader who absolutely knows how to win.
What’s the most important thing in your life?
My family.
What would you never throw away?
I have a penny in a sealed glass jar with some dirt inside from the Philly X Games in 2001. My mum got it done the day after my brother Stephen won Dirt at the X Games and gave one each to my brother, Scott Edgworth, Jason Aliano and myself. It sits by my desk and just reminds me of the most incredible day.
