Reverence: Lezyne Tyre Levers

Tyre Tool
Tyre Tool

Two summers ago my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting friends in Switzerland. The country is so expensive that I took home only two souvenirs: white Assos socks and a pair of Lezyne tyre levers. I assumed Lezyne was a European company. It was in this Swiss bike shop and I’d never seen the brand in an American store, ever. “Ewwww, exotic Swiss tire levers, I can afford these.” The levers were white “composite matrix” with a natty neoprene sleeve but really I bought them because I could fit them in my luggage and they were affordable ($4 US). Switzerland wisely (for them) never joined the EU but the Swiss franc makes buying swag painful. As a side note, the Assos socks are really well made. They look a tad less white now but have retained their essential Assos sock essence in every other respect.

Two years on and these levers have earned and kept the coveted number one position in my mobile rear pocket man-sachel. They are superior levers. Their hook design works better than levers made by Park, Pedros or King. I haven’t tried the Mavics Bretto has revered. I don’t know what the “composite matrix” is but it is strong as hell. Should it be so hard, designing an effective tyre lever? These are like medical instruments. Nurse, Lezyne tyre lever please. The thinness and specific curve of the bead hook makes these the levers used atop Mt Velomis.

Michelin tyres and Campagnolo rims (my favorite pairing) are at opposite ends of the clincher fit tolerances. They are wicked tight, harder to get off and on than the recently abandoned tubeless Hutchinsons. No other levers so easily get under the Michelin bead and take the horrible strain like these Lezynes do.

Sitting on the edge of the road in Kuala Lumpur, sweat pouring down your face as you bend to the task of switching inner-tubes, the sounds of snapping stalks from the jungle getting closer. Do you want the best tyre levers in your sweaty trembly hands? For you tubular riders, these might be excellent for husking that punctured tyre off the rim. At 26 grams, it would not be a bad bet. Hell, if you have to defend yourself against the enraged Malaysian monkey, a mini-pump in one hand and an unbreakable Lezyne medical instrument in the other might work out for you.

There, I’ve gone and done it. I’ve written an article singing the praises of a tyre lever and I can’t stop spelling tyre with a “y”. It’s what we do here. We obsess.

Disclaimer: Velominati has a friendly relationship with Lezyne and we have received some very well designed and well executed products of theirs, as have Keepers Tour riders from the 2012 Belgian love-fest. As I stated at the begining of this post, I bought these tyre tools when I didn’t know the first thing about the company. I admit that I was so impressed by their tyre levers I was inclined to try more of their products but my dirty Schleck love for these levers is not influenced by our relationship with Lezyne.

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75 Replies to “Reverence: Lezyne Tyre Levers”

  1. @wiscot

    @strathlubnaig

    That was a good lil’ read on something which seems so benign. A timely article for these seeking xmas stocking filler inspiration.

    On English, well I grew up in Canada, so my colleagues at work seem to expect me to speak and write like a ‘murican, as they think they are similar (which is of course utter tosh, like saying Scots and English are the same) however, I dont dissapoint them, so liberally sprinkle my reports with ‘murican spellings and of course I write the date the other way round. That said, the ‘murican date is lazier as it uses less words to say (‘December 25th’ as opposed to the laborious ‘the 25th of December’ )

    Hell, I was talking to a wummin on the phone yesterday. I’m from just outside Glasgow (Bishopton) and she asked me if I was Canadian. WTF? I mean to say, I’ve been over in the midwest for 22 years but I’m pretty sure I don’t sound like I’m Canadian. Mind you, I do live in Wisconsin which is kinda close to Canada.

    still looking for a reference to exposure to english as a first language there

  2. @Deakus

    @the Engine

    @frank

    @the Engine

    @brett

    It’s called ‘English’ for a reason.

    Except in Scotland where its called Scots

    And in ‘Murka where its called “talkin'”.

    Which reminds me – “lever” rhymes with “fever” not “ever”

    Rarely has a lay up cross in to the box been quite so perfect…. He shoots….he scores!

    Favorite SNL sketch ever. Exceptionally strong work. +1 Badge to you, matey.

  3. @al  KL? I guess not as I don’t get that. Write me at [email protected] we can discuss your transit and what KL is. It’s early here so maybe I’m not running up to speed.

    ding, ding, ding. Kuala Lumpur! No. But I’m obsessed about those monkeys fucking me up.

  4. @frank

    @Deakus

    @the Engine

    @frank

    @the Engine

    @brett

    It’s called ‘English’ for a reason.

    Except in Scotland where its called Scots

    And in ‘Murka where its called “talkin'”.

    Which reminds me – “lever” rhymes with “fever” not “ever”

    Rarely has a lay up cross in to the box been quite so perfect…. He shoots….he scores!

    Favorite SNL sketch ever. Exceptionally strong work. +1 Badge to you, matey.

    Now I know how Mark Renshaw feels

  5. I should try a set of these. Last year I had so many flats you’d think my father owned  an inner tube factory or something.

  6. @Beers

    @Ron

    And gotta ask – end of the world is coming. Will the Velominati in New Zealand be the first to get their last bike ride?

    Nah, you’ve seen all the disaster movies and tv shows Ron, the end of the world always starts in the US!

    Sorry Ron it did not happen today friday 21st maybe your friday 21st. but what a day to get out and roll !

  7. @Russ M

    (Just upload your images using the upload button or embed fully qualified URLs using the image button – pasting images into the posting editor doesn’t work…)

  8. @Deakus

    @the Engine

    @frank

    @the Engine

    @brett

    It’s called ‘English’ for a reason.

    Except in Scotland where its called Scots

    And in ‘Murka where its called “talkin'”.

    Which reminds me – “lever” rhymes with “fever” not “ever”

    Rarely has a lay up cross in to the box been quite so perfect…. He shoots….he scores!

    By the way, if you haven’t seen Seven Psychopaths, then go fucking see it right now. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just go do it.

    And once you’ve seen this, you’ll think this is absolutely hysterical:

  9. @frank

    wish they had done more w/ Tom Waits.

    Walken just seemed like he was having the time of his life…

  10. @the Engine

    you forget that the Yanks say Scotch instead of Scots, like Edinburgh in Yank is Eedinburg… however I digress. Lezyne are the bollox. My tYre levers fit neatly in my key pocket together with their aluminIum-note the 2i’s-puncture kit. This is where form definitely meets function, not style over content

  11. i love lezyne stuff. if possible, its always my brand of choice. but i just bought 2 of their flow bottle cages and its pretty crappy to be honest. bad fit and quality. :D

  12. I have a Lezyne multi-tool at home that I won in a (Merckx forgive me) MTB race. Whomever designed it had such a mastery of aesthetics, that I’m afraid to use it and scuff it up.

  13. @Deakus cowbell.  The prescription

    @strathlubnaig  I grew up in Canada. Well I aged in Canada. And people ask me if the village misses   Me.

    I stumbled upon some plastic coated steel levels branded by Specialized and they do the trick for me. Park shop levers for the workbench.

    .

  14. @Dallas

    I have a Lezyne multi-tool at home that I won in a (Merckx forgive me) MTB race. Whomever designed it had such a mastery of aesthetics, that I’m afraid to use it and scuff it up.

    Nothing wrong with winning at a mnt bike race. Quite Merckx in fact. I won a saddle once at a cross race by virtue of my willingness to finish instead of pulling off.  Lanterne Rouge.

  15. @Dan_R

    @Dallas

    I have a Lezyne multi-tool at home that I won in a (Merckx forgive me) MTB race. Whomever designed it had such a mastery of aesthetics, that I’m afraid to use it and scuff it up.

    Nothing wrong with winning at a mnt bike race. Quite Merckx in fact. I won a saddle once at a cross race by virtue of my willingness to finish instead of pulling off. Lanterne Rouge.

    Well pulling off during a race would get you arrested in most of the civilised world…

  16. @the Engine Chapeau!

    i am sitting in my local Starbuck’s, waiting for my truck to get out of thop shop, and I am the only XY chromosome in the place, including the table of EMTs! I want to feint a heart attack.

  17. @Gianni  Sorry I missed this one, but have just come back from leave. I will definitely be adding these monkey fighting tools to my Santa’s list. Do they come with a complementary rabies injection in that natty neoprene cover?

    Risking life and limb, I stopped on my ride today to take a couple of pictures of the monkeys for you, no gibbons, just the common “rat” variety. Note the garbage eating rodent like behaviour and sorry for the crap i-phone photos but it’s still a 3….

    Actually they were really pissed off I stopped and I could not get close without getting warned to stay away…..

    Have a great Christmas and may your stocking be full of shiny bike parts….and perhaps some V cufflinks…..

    Jungle full of fruit and the little bastards want to eat garbage…….

    Closest I could get without being hissed at

  18. @VeloVita Don’t know to be honest…they are pretty solid though…having said that I was putting some serious hurt on them at the time in the battle to squeeze my gatorskins over campag rims so I can’t complain too much..

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