Joe Murray (cyclist)

Joe Murray (born December 4, 1963) is an American pioneer in the mountain bike movement. Starting out as a professional mountain bike racer, he later moved into bicycle design. Murray was one of the original inductees (1988) into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.^[1] He was the first mountain biker inducted into the United States Bicycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Racing highlights

• 1980 Zero's Notch Race, 11th overall, 1st novice, first race.
• 1984 NORBA National Champion
• 1984 8 straight wins
• 1985 NORBA National Champion
• 1985 12 straight wins (to date, unmatched by any male mountain bike)
• 1989 Winner NORBA National Points Series Crystal Mountain, WA
• 1989 6th overall NORBA National Points Series

Other achievements

• Raced 400 races in over 10 years
• Over 73 victories
• Five-time winner of the Rockhopper Race (the first popular mountain bike race)
• Three-time winner of the Whiskeytown Downhill (one of first "classic" mountain bike races)
• First widely recognized mountain biker since the sport began.
• First mountain bike cyclist inducted to the US Cycling Hall of Fame. http://www.usbhof.com/1999-inductees/

Research & design achievements

• Designed ten tires for three different companies.
• Product designer for Marin, Kona, and VooDoo Cycles.
• Official product test rider for Shimano.
• Designed the first titanium mountain bike frame for Merlin.
• First to race extensively on off-road titanium frames.
• Designed the 1993 Mountain Bike Magazine "Bike of the Year"
• Designed titanium stems, seat posts, bottom brackets, bar ends, fork and other components.

References