How a Fareham IC’s first occupier transformed a love of cycling into one of the UK’s top custom bike businesses
A cycle design-and-build business run by a wounded Marine veteran from the Afghanistan conflict was the very first business to take space at Fareham Innnovation Centre. Under the name LIOS – inspired by the names of seven-year-old daughter Lily and eight-year-old son Oscar – he designs, builds, fits and sells bespoke carbon racing bikes, priced from £5,000. A deciding factor for moving to the centre was the expertise of neighbouring CEMAST – the recently-launched Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Manufacturing Advanced Skills Training.
“LIOS was previously based at my house, just up the road, and at a rented unit at the airfield. However, this was far from ideal. The superb facilities at Fareham Innovation Centre reflect the professional standing of LIOS. It means customers can visit so they can benefit from our 3D motion-capture bike fitting system – one of only a handful in the world.”
Steve McCulley, Founder of LIOS Bikes
Since moving to the centre, LIOS’s customers already include elite athletes. Steve’s hopes that in time, LIOS carbon bikes may be used by the next generation of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froomes in the Tour de France. LIOS fits in perfectly with our aim to support the growth of precision engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses on the site, and we are proud to have them on board.
