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IRD Stoker/Semi-Stoker, parts, etc.

11K views 84 replies 33 participants last post by  Ingmar Nopens2 
#1 ·
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.
 
#2 ·
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.
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...
 
#3 ·
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.
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!
 
#4 ·
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.
 
#5 ·
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.
 
#10 ·
nice freewheel protector ;)

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#16 ·
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.
Nice avatar DW. ;)
 
#17 ·
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.
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.
 
#20 ·
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"
 
#22 ·
Full Stroker circa 1987

This is an IRD Full Stroker that I built up while living in Vt. years ago. I had seen their blurb somewhere and had to try one out, probably the first one in NE? Only? Got it as a frame, fork, brakes, cranks, seatpost and macaroni stem package. I can't remember exactly what I paid for it but I don't think it was over a grand.

Anyway the bike was a ***** to build up as I remember it, what with the Bullseye cranks being finicky to fit and ended up with about a mm of clearance from the granny gear to the chainstay and the rear rotary brake connection was so tight to the bb shell that I had to make a special wire to hook it up. Used a piece of brake cable with a housing end cap soldered to it finally.

Once it was good to go it definately was fun to ride. Climbed really well and cleared obstacles with it's towering 13" bb. It actually worked pretty well in the woods and I adapted quite easily to the long cranks (however I use 170's now).

Took it out to the worlds in Mammoth that year and it really wasn't much fun in the pumice there as I remember or maybe it was just the altitude? However on the way home we stopped in Moab and rode Slickrock and that is where the bike really came alive. The RQR option operated by the red Suntour shifter on the bars in concert with the Hite-Rite was used on every drop in and once I got into the rythum I had a memorable time. The first inkling was on the road up from town when I got it in a big gear and windmilled up the hill past the dump like nobodies business. My buddy on his Cannondale could not keep me in site although we were of about equal abilities.

I had a steel legged fork at first and then got the Ti legs afterwards that fit the same crown. I also had a sus fork. I never got a chance to meet Rod and Ray in person but they were great on the phone and to deal with in general.

At one point I had a Sachs 2x7 hub on it which yielded some ridicuously low gear and I stripped the original paint to put on our team holstein paint scheme. I never rode it much here in CB after we moved here as I was more into my SlingShot at that time anyway.

The bike now resides in a collection nestled in the shadows of the Continental Divide.













 
#23 ·
shiggy said:
My buddy's Semi stroker.

You can use a 24" or 26" rear wheel. There are two sets of threaded bosses for the Rotary Brake studs. Basically every part that could be IRD on this bike is IRD.
Were those Interloc cranks that Joe Breeze designed early enough to be made by the origional IRD crew or did they come later?

Will I ever learn to not question Shiggy's posts? Answers to follow.
 
#24 ·
Boy named SSue said:
Were those Interloc cranks that Joe Breeze designed early enough to be made by the origional IRD crew or did they come later?

Will I ever learn to not question Shiggy's posts? Answers to follow.
Rod still owned or was at least still part of Interloc when they were making the Breeze designed cranks. I think Merry Sales was the distributor for IRD and Breezer at the time.
 
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