Review: Lezyne Pumps

Pumps are one of those bits of kit which we depend on heavily. Perhaps every ride we will pump up our tyres, or at least every few, in order to get the correct rolling resistance, grip and comfort for the conditions and the type of riding we are doing.

However, not every pump is the same; and when a pump fails on you, it could be a long walk home if you happen to be pumping up a flat out on the trail or road. Having had this happen to me, I now really appreciate the merits of a good hand pump and the accuracy of a good floor pump. So this blog looks at my two favourite, both from Lezyne: the Steel Floor Drive and the Alloy Drive Hand Pump.

Steel Floor Drive Pump

Every cyclist should have a 'Track Pump', it makes the task of pumping up tyres pre-ride far more manageable, faster and most importantly far more likely to happen; we all know the merits of correct tyre pressure.

My first floor pump was a Topeak Joe Blow; it served me well, but over time I began to see its flaws. Firstly, the head seal began to leak air as the rubber bung began to degrade. Secondly, the relatively large barrel meant high pressures were hard to obtain (for road bike tyres). Finally, it always felt a little bit cheap and plastic like, and I was never that convinced the pressure reading was correct.

Step in the Lezyne Floor Drive. I borrowed one of these at a race event and subsequently ordered one as soon as it came on special offer on Wiggle. Why? Quite simply it solved the three problems highlighted above: 

• The leaking valve?...The Floor Drive (the same as all Lezyne pumps) has a screw-on connector for the valve; allowing a secure and tight fit even at high pressure. Additionally, the screw-on fitting means there is no fear of the rubber bung failing or corroding over time.
• High Pressure?...The narrow barrel and solid construction means the Steel Floor Drive can reach 160psi with ease (if you have tubular tyres and want to go that high). 
• Plastic?...There is no plastic in sight with the Floor Drive. Quality is evident from first sight. Its hardwood handle, stainless barrel and solid metal base, with a large and sensitive pressure gauge immediately overcome any concerns of incorrect pressure readings. 
• Anything else?...Another feature I really like about the floor drive is the extra long hose, it means you can pump tyres up whilst the bike is in the work-stand - handy!

So there you have it. A floor pump that ticks all the boxes and looks like it is seriously built to last. In my mind it is worth every penny more than a cheaper Track Pump and in the long run I expect it will actually work out far better value.

Alloy Hand Drive Pump

Onto the hand-pump - an equally vital bit of kit for when you puncture out on the trail or for pumping up your tyres on a long tour.

I've had a few problems with previous hand pumps I've owned as well. To name a few:

• the valve snaps off because it gets wiggled around too much with frantic pumping and annoyance,
• the rubber seal gets worn out from the movement on the valve and it no longer seals on the valve stem,
• tyres can take an age to pump up,
• you drop them (or crash) and the pump breaks. (OK perhaps I was unlucky with this one).

And how does the Lezyne Hand Drive solve these?

1. The pump uses the old style "ABS Flex Hose", which screws onto the valve and then onto the pump. This means you can frantically pump away with as much anger and frustration as you like, but the lateral movement on the valve is avoided as it is absorbed by the hose.
2. There is no rubber seal to wear out on Lezyne pumps; the screw-on nature avoids this, and means the pumps last for much longer in my experience.
3. The Alloy Hand Drive comes in various sizes, so that you can pick the one that suits your needs (large volume for mountain bike tyres and smaller for higher pressure road tyres), thus avoiding the 'one size fits all' policy of some hand pumps.
4. The Hand Drive has all the same quality oozing from it as the Floor Drive (it's just small enough to put in your jersey pocket). I've dropped this a few times, including when it jumped out of my jersey pocket and flown along the tarmac at 45mph. It's as good as new. The all alloy construction means that there's far less chance of breakage and a far longer life span.

So there they are, my two pumps. Not something you think about much as a cyclist, but something you will have to think about even less if you get a decent quality one that is built to last like these. I would certainly recommend putting them on your Birthday or Christmas List.

Lezyne Pumps on Wiggle Bike Shop (Link)