Eric Carter Joins Marin Bikes
Marin Mountain Bikes Inc. today announced key changes to its sales staff. Racing legend Eric Carter has joined Marin and will be managing the Southern California territory as a Factory Rep. Cedar Kyes will move north to manage the Pacific Northwest territory.
Carter has had a 25 year career as a professional athlete, with multiple World and National Championships in BMX, Four Cross and Downhill disciplines. After retiring from his elite racing career, Carter held roles ranging from Brand Ambassador for GT Bicycles, Product Manager for Hyper Bicycles and, most recently, Downhill Program Manager for Specialized. He has already started hitting the road in his territory. In his free time, Eric can be found hanging out with his wife and kids, or riding his bike in the hills behind his home.
 | After the various jobs in the industry post elite racing, I realized that being a sales rep in Southern California would be the best long term job for me in the industry. I think it's similar in approach and mentality to being a racer in the fact that the harder you work, the better your results. To have the opportunity to work with a historic brand like Marin, especially during these growth years, is something I am very excited about. Marin has been involved with this sport from the start and I look forward to helping Marin grow its position in Southern California. The brand is making moves and is committed to making a big push to support its dealers, sales reps and riders and I am excited to be a part of the effort. - Eric Carter |
Image by Dan Severson
Cedar Kyes, a native of Portland, OR, will be relocating to his home base the Pacific Northwest in the coming weeks. This will mark the first time in years that this territory will have direct Marin representation. Kyes has had a 20 year-long career in the bicycle and snowsports industries and has been a Marin Factory Rep for the past two years.
| I chased my dreams down to California and now I'm bringing the dream back home. I am forever grateful to Marin Bikes for this opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. The amazing people I've met and the awesome places I've been will always be a part of me. Big thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way! - Cedar Kyes |
| I am thrilled to be able to make this move, we now have full factory representation throughout the West Coast. I think this shows both existing and potential dealers that we are committed to serving their needs and growing the Marin brand. EC is a well respected member of the tribe who knows how to win and knows that hard work will bring success. Cedar is a proven member of our team who is moving back to his home turf to take on a territory with tons of growth potential. I'm confident they will both be very successful in their new roles. - Thad Fabish, Marin's National Sales Manager |
Marin’s inside sales team of James Drake and Devon Mitchell remains the same, with James focused on the Midwest and East Coast, and Devon handling the West.
About Marin
Founded in 1986, Marin Bikes California is a pioneering, innovative bike company built and run by passionate riders. Born out of the cycling paradise of Marin County and San Francisco, we’re obsessed with superior design, quality, and performance. www.marinbikes.com
MENTIONS @MarinBikes @ECMTB1
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Obviously I know the original history, my second mountain bike in 1991 was a Marin Pine Mountain.
However, they built a good business here in the UK with their popular, Quad-Link full suspension bikes designed by Jon Whyte
The UK distributor ATB Sales then working with Jon to create the Whyte brand originally as a high end extension of Marin for UK customers and now seems to encompass a full brand including hybrids and commuters.
Never seen much of their bikes outside of the UK? Do they have much market share in the USA, and Canada?
I live in San Francisco and ride in Marin a lot. almost nobody rides their bikes here! it's a little weird, especially since many of their models are very nice.
they have a retail shop near downtown...and it is not very well staffed or stocked. hard to find a good mtb in the place and even harder to get decent help. its sort of a shame...being the namesake and all....
Reality is its probably better for both parties that I was not offered a spot with them for this season… I am not sure how I would have fit in with some of the new management ways.
That is no way a slam to them… Just reality... As I have said before… I am thankful for the opportunity they provided… I had a super fun season and am very proud of the teams results... I learned a ton about myself and was able to see a lot of old friends on the circuit and make some new ones as well.
That chapter of my life is now closed and in my rear view mirror.
I am a looking forward type of person and this new opportunity with some really cool folks at Marin is very exciting for me.
*may contain sarcasm
Have a great time at Marin!
Hey Eric
Been a fan of yours for years (I started riding MTB in 1986, after years of racing BMX and freestyle). The USA scene was something we always looked at for inspiration, and you were there well among many other talented riders.
Great to see you finding a solid business career after you retired from your riding career.
good luck for the future with Marin, and as always, Happy Trails!
cheers
Rob C, London, England.
Last years gig was the perfect amount of workload/stress…. I could be on the hill filming the riders and going over lines after and try to help the riders with their mindsets (my favorite part)… But that stuff and just the planning workload that you have as a manager is still exhausting at the end of the season… I can't imagine the stress of things like getting killed at the airport check in for luggage and blowing the budget for the event before you have departed… Just watching "your" teams money go away...Team Owner Stress.
I really like what I have lined up with Marin right now and I can see this being a long term deal.
*may also contain sarcasm ; )
My opinion of Marin Bikes just shot up from a "meh 4" to a " Cool! 7" with this move. Go EC!!
Tell me more about the bikes bro...
I am sure Specialized have a set agenda and goals for their race program for 2015 and for whatever reason they felt it would be best achieved with a new manager… The new manager is a good guy with a ton of experience and currently working at Specialized so its a good fit… I hope the team does well this year and that some of the gel i brought to the program sticks.
Wishing you nothing but good luck and a bright future, @ECMTB1!
Adding Cody Kelley and continued support of The North American Enduro champ Kyle Warner is just part of the plan being hatched for growth at Marin.
Will be fun and exciting times these next couple of years under the Marin roof.
Anyway.... I'm happy to see you're with a company that understands history, charisma, personality, fun, and family. When I think of Specialized, I think of a soulless, money-driven group of lawyers digging for the last dollar of our sport. No offense to you or the team riders.
As Murryaybmx said, really good to see his art live on through his pupils… My wheel guy now is John Canepa… He was my mechanic at the end of my run with Mongoose and GT and he is one of my best friends…He built the now infamous "Aaron Gwin Leogang wheel" from this years World Cup in Austriia
I agree, I think the Marin people are a good group and I think working with them will be a lot of fun.
Eric Carter SHREDS!!!
hoosker-doo
cheers bro!