IRD Stoker/Semi-Stoker, parts, etc.

Yup....

bushpig said:

Has any one here ridden an IRD stoker or semi-stoker. I remember reading the spec's for the bikes I being amazed at how different they were from anything else. No one followed their pioneering lead either. I am curious to hear how they rode, and if any one has pictures, better still.

Similarly, IRDs brakes, were an amazing study in componentry. So precisely crafted with tricky tech that never quite worked for me though I kept on using it. I am interested to here if people continue to use classics like the roller cantis or the roller u-brake.

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I rode one as a test ride in Cambria around 88 or so. I loved the handling on the trail, but not too much for 'jumping' around. I woulda loved one...a semi that is, but just couldn't afford it. So I had all other IRD componentry...MacaroniStem, Seatpost, Switchback brakes...I really liked their stuff. Really cool and AMERICAN made. The Blueberry sunburst paintjob on the frame was outa this world! No bridges on the stays for compliance. It climbed like a goat...long TT, short stays, steep head. It also descended well...even with a high BB. I think It had 190 Bullseye cranks on it. That bike relative to my first StumpJumper determined the GEO on my first custom frame. I knowShiggy has one...he'll chime I'm sure...

bushpig said:

Has any one here ridden an IRD stoker or semi-stoker. I remember reading the spec's for the bikes I being amazed at how different they were from anything else. No one followed their pioneering lead either. I am curious to hear how they rode, and if any one has pictures, better still.

Similarly, IRDs brakes, were an amazing study in componentry. So precisely crafted with tricky tech that never quite worked for me though I kept on using it. I am interested to here if people continue to use classics like the roller cantis or the roller u-brake.

Click to expand...

They were a bit of a rarity in the UK. I always lusted after the roller brakes though but they were silly money and my student loans got burned on other bits.

Likewise the Mcmahon brakes - I just love the design. If I could find them I'd run them!

I have ridden both the Stroker and the Semi-Stroker and used many IRD brakes, seat posts and forks. A buddy use to own a shop that was nearly the IRD factory outlet. He still has a complete Semi, a full suspension frame and lots of parts (mostly on bikes).

I wish I still had the Expedition fork.

A sad mystery for me is where all my IRD parts went. I hope that I still have some left in the hoard that I am getting this summer, but I think that I sold them all. I never had a seatpost, but I had many other parts - stems, cantis, u-brake, roller-u-brake. The brakes always felt mushy but they were so powerful.

a couple old pictures of a Stoker

https://static.flickr.com/28/57304699_fddf8d194a_o_d.jpg

https://static.flickr.com/31/55348097_e4a886e9c6_o_d.jpg

johncoe

Cool pics. Is that Grizzly Adams?

Vulture aka Wade

eldengrave said:

johncoe

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the pics

These pictures are awesome. Are there people at today's IRD from the old days?

bushpig said:

Are there people at today's IRD from the old days?

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Nope. Ray retired and then Rod sold to Merry Sales. Rod stayed on for a while before doing his own thing (outlaw kart racing the last I heard).

Merry Sales also is the parent company of Soma Fab and at one time, Breezer.

thats nice. IRD almost had a groupo going back then with the stems, brakes, seatposts, frames, and forks. What I haven't seen except once is a full stroker (with 220mm cranks). I met a guy in a race who said your knees hit your chest when you are riding one.

datawhacker said:

thats nice. IRD almost had a groupo going back then with the stems, brakes, seatposts, frames, and forks. What I haven't seen except once is a full stroker (with 220mm cranks). I met a guy in a race who said your knees hit your chest when you are riding one.

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Nice avatar DW.

datawhacker said:

thats nice. IRD almost had a groupo going back then with the stems, brakes, seatposts, frames, and forks. What I haven't seen except once is a full stroker (with 220mm cranks). I met a guy in a race who said your knees hit your chest when you are riding one.

Click to expand...

I rode a full Stroker (225 mm cranks) are couple of times. It was like walking up tall stairs. You did need to run the bars a bit higher to minimize the knees-to-chest.

The Semi-S above has 190 mm cranks.

Rumpfy said:

Nice avatar DW.

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Oops. I thought I deleted that.

I still have a set of Switchback brakes on my Tandem. Purple ano even

This thread brings a tear to me eye, IRD anything, ETTO helmets, Oakley Factory Pilots, AXO padded gloves...ah the good ol' days.

The bikes were built for tall riders(which I ain't) but I did have a custom IRD seatpost and Macaroni stem that I ordered from the old Mountain Bike Specialists catalog back in the eighties. If memory serves, MBS referred to IRD as "In Rod's Dreams"