Location : Portland Oregon USA
Style of bikes: Custom frame design, Road, MTB, Gravel, Touring
Production Methods: Fillet braised and lug constructions
Builder / designer / appointer : Ira Ryan
Bicycle-building is as much about shared values as it is the type of steel. Having a shared viewpoint with a builder on technical items is certainly critical, but a philosophical alignment is heartwarming and sparks that flame for the joy of riding and the passion behind the craft.
What I know about Ira is that he really cares about the whole system of bicycles and the positive impact they can have on people and communities. He channels this passion into creating bikes from steel by hand. These bikes are often very unique and are personal projects for his customers, which is what he finds most fulfilling.
During my interview with Ira, we discussed bike advocacy, consumerism, the impact of craftsmanship, and sustainability. We didn’t delve deeply into bike standards, different types of steel, and other typical bike-related topics. Ira is very knowledgeable about these subjects, given his 18 years of experience building bikes. Some of Ira’s favourite stories are from times of riding with Andy Hampsten or the unique history of how he resurrected his Bridgeport mill from a remote, sometimes waterlogged barn in the Northeast with Chris Iglehart’s help.
Ira was one of the founders of Breadwinner cycles and recently (of a year) moved back to working as a solo entity so he could pursue a purity of satisfaction in what he does the best, in a manner that fits his ethos.
Ira builds all for all categories of bicycles in both lugged and fillet braised construction from his home workshop in North Portland where he has a very enjoyable workspace littered with cycling goodies and tales to match. I asked of the relevance of the Canadian flag, he found it on the road and thought it was cool. He’s not wrong.
Make it beautiful, Ride Bikes … https://iraryanbicycles.com/
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