reviews

Lezyne Carbon Drive Lite 

Take this hand pump with you wherever you ride. It’s compact and made of lightweight and durable MCT carbon composite. The barrel and handle are made of MCT reinforced carbon fiber so, yeah, it’s light. $59 lezyne.com

Lezyne Twin Speed Drive C02 Inflator 

Simple and fast. This inflator is compact 100% CNC machined aluminum. The threaded valve operation allows for easy inflation and the Twin Slip-Fit head presses onto Presta and Schrader valves for quick engagement. $14 lezyne.com

Lezyne Femto Drive Front and Rear LED Lights 

Ride safely with these compact, bright, affordable safety lights with lenses made of high-grade optical material. They have four flash modes, one solid mode, are weather resistant, and extremely durable. $14 lezyne.com

Saddle bags are a useful accessory but can often ruin the look of a nice bike; a baggy material with velcro straps wrapped around multiple surfaces. The Lezyne Pod Caddy does away with straps and baggyness, creating a saddle rail mounted hard shell case. 

In-line with what I've come to expect from Lezyne, it's a stylish and well made bag that will not look out of place on a high value bike. I was looking forward to testing it on my Giant TCR, as with its aero post, fitting a standard saddle bag proved cumbersome and I also wanted something I could easily remove when racing. Unfortunately the Pod didn't fit either: the rail mounting interfered with the seat-post clamp. 

Granted the TCR has quite a bulky rail clamp but it is something to consider when buying on of these. I have my saddle on the limit of set-back, offering the maximum amount of rail to the Pod and still couldn't get it on. You need to have a good amount of horizontal rail area for the clamp as you won't be able clip the Pod on if it's on the curve at all.

 So, with it not fitting my road bike I mounted it on the mountain bike. I decided it would offer a better test for stability of the Pod anyway, getting rocked around off-road. 

With only support from the top, you might be concerned that it would wobble or become loose. Thanks to a well designed and solid support this isn't the case however. Fully loaded with a tube, multi-tool and a few other bits, the Pod is still held fast and was not noticeable during riding. The bag clips into the mount with a confident 'clunk' and isn't come to come out until you want it to. The Pod is a EVA foam moulded construction with Nylon cover and is water resistant, certainly more resistant than most soft material bags but after forgetting to take it off during a bike cleaning I can say that it isn't going to keep things 100% dry. 

Onto the main sell of any saddle bag, the Pod's design makes it one of the easiest to load and unload from. A zipper runs around three sides of the case, allowing it to open like a clam shell. You then have full access so you're not removing everything to get the change that has fallen to the bottom at the cafe stop. A netted partition stops things falling out when the lower opens. The zip also features a large finger loop to avoid any fumbling around with cold hands. 

We had both the S and M sizes on test and the difference in size isn't massive but with the M i'd say you can get two road tubes in rather than one (or one MTB tube in my case), along with a tyre lever and multi-tool. It's a good size - not too big to look odd perched under the saddle - and for an extra £2 probably the size I'd go for. We also had both the black and the white colours and I'd say the black is subtle - as you want from a saddle bag - but is purely taste. 

Verdict 

I really like the Lezyne Caddy Pod, I've used a few saddle bags in my time and reckon this is the most stylish, whilst remaining practical. That makes it more of shame that I couldn't fit it on my race bike, whether you'll have the saddle rail access is something to consider before buying. The S and M retail at £23.99 and £25.99 respectively and although there are cheaper options I don't feel it over priced for what is a tidier saddle bag option for most that isn't going to cause any paint rub.

This is a great light. It has clean lines. It's plenty bright. I recommend it highly.

 The dimensions (length about the same as a crispy chocolate & rice bar, or 1020000000 angstrom), weight (4 grams more than two bars), and candle power (far more birthdays than I'll ever see) all fall within acceptable parameters. Useful details, should you require actual hard data despite my unreserved recommendation, can be found on the full road.cc review. The purpose of my writeup is to provide supplementary information.

The full article/review is located HERE.

Lezyne’s new digital floor pumps are available in standard high volume pump in Sport, CNC, Alloy and Steel Digital pumps. At the moment, they’re all high pressure (read: road tire) models, plus one for shocks.

Yes, a floor pump for suspension. It’s not the first time someone’s done it. It pumps 1/3 the air of a standard floor pump and goes to 300psi. Really, it’s aimed at team mechanics and others that have to set up a lot of forks and shocks. There’s wood handle and the pump head has a dual disconnect that lets you remove the head from the hose to disconnect without losing air pressure. Then you thread the head off the shock. An inline pressure release valve lets you bleed air a little at a time to set it just right. Retail is $109.99.

The other digital floor pumps start at $69.99, and all have a gauge is accurate to +/-3%.

Get pumped for some cool lights and tools after the break…

The full article/review is located HERE.

The full article/review is located HERE.

Lezyne Digital Pump Guage, Danny Mac Signature Series Tools

Renowned for their clean designs and attention to detail, Lezyne had a myriad of pumps, tools, and lights on display. One item that stood out was their new digital gauge option that is now available for their current pump lineup, with a claimed accuracy of plus or minus three percent. The gauge will add $30 to the price of a pump, or can be purchased as an aftermarket upgrade for $50. Items from Lezyne's Danny MacAskill signature series were also on display, including the Block multitool, which has a CNC-machined body and nickel plated 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and T25 bits. MSRP: $24.99. Another piece in the signature series collection is the MacAskill Travel Drive pump, which is designed to take up as little room as possible while still remaining a fully functional floor pump. CNC machined aluminum is used for the handle, base, and piston to keep the weight down. MSRP: $99.99

The Lezyne Phone Caddy is large enough to take not only your mobile phone but a bunch of other ride essentials too, and it'll fit neatly inside a jersey pocket.

The Phone Caddy, which measures 150mm x 110mm x 45mm, is made from a nylon fabric and although it's not fully waterproof, it's water-resistant.

The main compartment is divided in two, the back section coming with a clear panel that's touchscreen compatible – so you can operate your phone through it easily. It's large enough to take most smart phones although you might want to check those dimensions if you have a great big slab of a mobile.

As well as a phone, here's what I've been carrying in the Phone Caddy lately:

* Tyre levers

* Leatherman Squirt multitool

* 20-function multitool

* Valve extender & chainpin

* Puncture repair patches

* Vulcanizing fluid

* £20 note (I'm a high roller, me)

* Spare inner tube (neoprene outer sleeve)

* Mini pump (neoprene side sleeve)

There's another side sleeve that I've not been using, large enough to take a CO2 cartridge if that's your thing. (I'm not sure why I'm carrying around two multitools at the moment; there might or might not be a good reason for that).

That covers everything I ever take with me when I'm riding (unless I need a waterproof too), so I only have to remember to pick up one thing when I go out the door and that's good news – I'm easily muddled. Of course, you could use a saddle pack and not have to remember anything, but I prefer not to hang stuff off the bike.

The divider between the phone sleeve and the rest of the main compartment is well padded so nothing is going to get damaged in here. If you want to carry a touchscreen MP3 player, you could obviously do that instead (or as well). There's an exit port for routing an earphone lead.

The Phone Caddy is well made with a water-resistant zipper taking care of closure. After two or three months of use, all the seams and edges are still intact and the only signs that it has been used are a few tiny scratches on the touchscreen panel, and they're nothing to worry about.

You get loops to hang the Phone Caddy from a belt if you like but, assuming you're a roadie, you're just going to sling it in a rear pocket and forget about it.

I'm not saying this product breaks down any barriers in terms of innovation but I've found it really handy and will continue to use it.

The Lezyne M Caddy Quick Release is a very neat and useful saddle-bag.

Lezyne have a range of small bags that fit under your saddle, including this M Caddy QR. The M stands for medium, and the QR stands for quick release. It's perfectly sized for carrying all the kit you need for a day out - and you can attach it to your bike (and take it off again) very quickly indeed.

Most saddle-packs attach to the saddle rails with straps and Velcro, but as this Caddy is the quick release version there's a plastic bracket that bolts to the saddle rails, and the bag has a small plastic socket on top, which clips onto (and off) the bracket in a matter of moments.

The clip holds the bag tight, so it doesn't need a second strap to go round the seat post. It also means the bag hangs out behind the saddle, rather than directly under it, which is especially useful for anyone that finds some saddle-bags rub against the backs of their thighs when cycling.

There's plenty of room in the bag for a spare inner-tube, plus levers, patches, CO2 canister, keys, money and an energy bar. If you keep your food in your pocket (and you're a pessimist when it comes to punctures), there's just enough room for two lightweight tubes and two canisters, plus levers and patches.

The main part of the bag is made from tough nylon fabric. There are three internal pockets (made from softer neoprene, so slightly padded) which hold tyre levers and other bits of kit to prevent chafing the inner tube. There's also a very handy external pocket designed to carry a multi-tool.

The zip and access flap at the back of the bag are water resistant, but not waterproof, which means you'll still need to dry out your stuff after a ride in the rain.

Other features include a loop of tape for clipping a rear light onto, but it's too thin to hold the light firmly, meaning the light shines downwards rather than straight back out towards approaching cars. Other manufacturers such as Topeak use much thicker tape on the back of their saddle-packs which hold rear lights in a much better position.

The M Caddy QR's full retail price is £21.99 but you can find it for just under £20 at your LBS or the usual on-line stores. It's usually a couple of quid more than the standard M Caddy with the Velcro straps that go round saddle rails and seat post.

Lezyne Carbon Drive Lite 

This tiny Lezyne hand pump has us leaving the CO2 behind and not missing it one bit if we happen to flat. At only 80grams and 17cm it stows easily in even a tight race fit jersey pocket but can still get up to 100psi without leaving you exhausted at the side of the road. It’s made of Lezyne’s Matrix Carbon Technology with CNC’d aluminum hardware but the real star is the ABS Flex hose with a threaded connector stored with in the pump body. You can pump aggressively without fear of breaking your valve stem, technically speaking of course. 

lezyne.com Price: $60

The Lezyne Phone Wallet is designed to keep your personal items dry and secure. I'm talking, phone, change or maybe a card in case of emergencies. There are several products on the market designed to do just this but not many that do all of it.

Step forward the phone wallet from Lezyne. There's no doubting the wallet is well made.

For your phone there is a separate pocket, sealed with a water resistant zip which has a large loop to assist access, even with bulky gloves. An added bonus is the clear panel that is touchscreen compatible, so you can still use your phone whilst it is safely protected. It'll fit a smartphone up to an HTC One X - just.

This clear panel is in turn protected by a velcro cover with three slots for holding cards, ID etc. On the outside is a zippered pocket, ideal for the important loose change if a coffee is required en route.

All that said, the finished item is well made but the drawback is its size! It measures 145x100x25mm, not the smallest item to fit in any pocket. To be fair, it will fit in a jersey rear pocket but you will notice its bulk. So the question remains, do you want something that will protect your phone and do it well plus a number of other items but take up a fair amount of room? I would imagine the answer in a lot of instances will be no. Simpler zip-lock covers do a similar job for less money and room in your pocket.

"These are handy, tiny and well made little units, and make for great emergency lights. They are certainly not standalone commuting lights, but do serve as nice extra illumination to help you be seen on our streets."

The full article/review is located HERE.

"Weapons grade construction gives the aluminum bodied Power Drive XL a bombproof feel..." Read on...

MTBR visited our booth at Interbike and shot a lot of videos and photos for your viewing pleasure. They are all super informative and helpful in introducing the new 2013 line of products to the consumer. It is absolutely worth the time to find out what actually drives us and what the end result in the product looks like. Enjoy. Link HERE.

"At the Cycle Show yesterday Lezyne showed us their brand new RAP 7 LED multi-tool, featuring an integrated LED light. Is it the first multi-tool to combine a light? We're certainly stuggling to think of any others out there."

Full Road.cc review HERE.

Lezyne CNC Travel Drive was recently reviewed by BikeRadar.com.

"Lezyne's CNC Travel Drive pump is a strange little creature: it's compact enough to stuff easily into a bike travel case, is more durably constructed than many full-sized floor pumps and, in some instances, works better. It's not ideal as an everyday inflator but if frequent travel is your norm, there's no better way to go."

Full article HERE.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/tools/cycling-tools/floor-track-pump/product/review-lezyne-cnc-travel-drive-pump-12-46551

Road Cycling UK recently got a hold of our Micro Drive Front and Micro Drive Rear LED lights. Here is a little of what they thought about our dynamic duo:

"At the front the CNC machined aluminium bodied LED light pumps out and impressive 150 lumens in Blast mode for two hours, enough for a good early evening training ride, or long commute in and out of work... Early usage of the Micro Drives has delivered good performance. The button is easy to feel with gloved hands, and the modes offer a good range of alternatives for a variety of situations and daylight levels." - RCUK.com

To read the full edit, follow this link.>>

BikeRumor came by our booth at Sea Otter and we gave them the rundown on a few of our new products. Here's what they had to say in passing along the good word...

A great review of the Lezyne Super Drive as a "bikepacking" light....sweet.