It’s All About the Bike
Back in September 2023, John Whitney, the Deputy Editor of Cycling Plus magazine, visited us for his bike fit and collection of a bespoke LIOS Titanium Gravel Bike we’d made for him.
Prior to that point, there had a been a number of phone calls and emails to discuss his requirements, his cycling goals, the specification of the bike and to get some detailed measurements, all of which we do with every customer.
After his Retül 3D motion analysis bike fit to fine tune the bike for comfort and efficiency, he and Steve headed to the Queen Elizabeth Country Park for a test ride.
Fast forward to the beginning of February 2024 and John delivered back the titanium gravel bike, which he’d reviewed and tested, and a six page feature on the whole experience was published in Issue 416 (April 2024) of Cycling Plus on 15 February 2024.
You’ll have to purchase Cycling Plus to read the full review, which we are very happy with, but there are some key points summarised here for you.
Steve takes John through a Retül bike fit in order to fine tune the bike for comfort and efficiency based on John’s biomechanics, flexibility and cycling goals.
The Process
Getting Sized Up for a LIOS Bike
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To better understand the service LIOS offers its customers, he invited me down to his unit in Lee-on-the-Solent to go through his custom build and bike-fitting process. While carbon road bikes is a big part of LIOS’s business, I’m riding as much gravel as road right now, so decided to go for their titanium gravel frame / carbon fork and build from there.
Steve says:
“I thought gravel would be a bit of a fad, but for so many reasons - busy roads, impatient drivers, potholes, getting off the beaten track - they’re here to stay. We’re selling quite a few to people who just want to be more comfortable on our poor roads. Then there are those who want it for new adventures, huge trips that involve riding across continents. Titanium has proven popular because it can withstand a lot, plus, unlike carbon [which is sold in set sizes] we can offer full bespoke geomtery - these are truly one-off bikes.”
Steve sells LIOS bikes everywhere. His unit and twice weekly ride-outs with friends and customers have raised his profile locally, but he also sells nationally and internationally. Visit him in person and talk through your preferences and get sized up for your bike on his rig, or submit your own measurements and preferences online or by phone, then visit him once the bike is ready to fine-tune your position on Retül. This technology fits the bike to you through dynamic 3D motion capture, taking into account your flexibility and the type of riding you’re doing.
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John Whitney, Cycling Plus, Issue 416
The Bike
LIOS’s Made-to-Measure Gem
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The LIOS Titanium Gravel Bike that was built for me had a retail price of £4,995, including all consultations and fittings. Frame and fork is a set £2,100, but where you go from there is up to you.
I opted for SRAM’s second-tier eTap AXS 1x groupset, Force, with a 40 tooth front ring and a 10-44T cassette. Component delays changed it to a 10-52T ‘mullet.
Hope’s alloy 20Five rims were given a touch of class with their own metallic orange hubs (this touch is seen elsewhere on the bike). Fizz’s Antares R1 Versus saddle and Pirelli’s Cinturato Gravel H tyres are old personal faves.
As a com parison, the (non-custom built) Reilly Gradient titanium gravel bike with the same groupset is £4,974.
The LIOS Ti gravel bike is now back with LIOS, so if you’re 6ft and long of leg, look out for it on LIOS’s website at a bargain knock-down price.
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John Whitney, Cycling Plus, Issue 416
The Ride
Hitting the Trails
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“I’ve always found the elegant design of titanium frames irresistible and the LIOS, allied with the eye-popping Hope parts, did not disappoint. As easy on the eye as titanium is, comfort and durability are key pillars of it as a frame material. I took an instant liking to the supremely comfortable easy-handling LIOS, which, combined with the tread pattern on the 45mm Pirelli tyres, ate up the uneven ground of the park.”
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John Whitney, Cycling Plus, Issue 416
