About a dozen products later, I am still a big fan. I have used everything from their bags, floor pumps, hand pumps, tools and even patch kits, and everything has been superb. So, when I was embarking on this cycling trip through Italy, I knew I'd need a good reliable pump. Portability was an issue and although I could have probably just bought a cheap pump in Firenze, I knew I wouldn't be able to bring it home so it'd be more money thrown quite literally in the garbage. I remembered that Lezyne had the Travel Floor Drive in their catalog, and despite the fact that it was fairly expensive, I knew that it would work great, I knew that it'd be portable and I would be able to use it for years to come.
I decided upon the Danny Macaskill edition for one reason... it was on sale. Someone had it online for $70 instead of the $100 that it (and the regular CNC version) usually costs. The Macaskill version is exactly the same product as the CNS version except it is anodized in black and features Danny Macaskill's signature embedded into the handle. Now, I think Danny Macaskill is awesome and the pump looks cool in black, but I couldn't really care less, it was $30 cheaper so I went for it.
As I said, this edition is the same pump as the standard CNC Travel Road Drive. It features a very light weight CNC aluminum body and handle, ABS Flip-Thread Chuck that works on both Presta and Schrader valves, and comes with the Slip Chuck, which allows for faster attachment and compatibility with disc wheels. The pump stands 20 inches high and has what Lezyne calls a "lay-flat" design. Essentially, it has a base with a "pedal" to secure the pump with your foot on one side and the dial on the other, much like the old Silca track pump that I used to see around the bike shop. The hose extends from the bottom and treads into the bottom of the handle when not in use, for tidy packing in the provided canvas travel bag. Despite it's small size, the pump is capable of 160psi, though I never needed to pump my tires above 95psi so I'm not sure how useful that is unless you're racing team pursuit on an indoor wooden track.
If you are looking for a less expensive option, Lezyne also makes a steel version with a wooden handle which has all the same functions. It is slightly heavier however, and I chose the CNC (Macaskill) version to be as light as possible. I am sure when Lezyne designed this pump they may not have been considering my traveling throughout Italy with a 50lb bike bag on my shoulder, but at just over 2lbs, this pump didn't weigh me down. I am sure this pump would be equally at home in the trunk of your car for last minute tire inflation at group rides or in your track bag when racing said team pursuit.
As far as function, the Travel Floor Drive performed flawlessly. Because it is a travel pump, everything on the pump is proportionally small. At first I was a little thrown by the size of the handle and the hand cutouts. And leaning over a little further than I was used to with my full-sized Lezyne CNC Floor Drive took a few pumps to get used to. The hose is shorter as well, so you have to have your valves appropriately positioned towards the bottom of the wheel to attach the chuck. None of this is in any way a drawback, just something to get used to. After using it for a month, when I came home and pumped my tires with my usual pump, that felt oddly tall by comparison. It's just a matter of getting used to it.
Speaking of the chuck, I am a big fan of Lezyne's Flip-Thread chuck. It's one of the main reasons I first bought their pumps and after using it if the reason I still do. I know this is a point of contention for some, since you need to tread the chuck onto the valve. Common complaints are that the treading takes too long and that it could unthread your valve core, causing complete air loss. Neither of these are issues for me. I like the secure attachment that the thread on chuck provides, and I don't know how fast people want to pump their tires but I'm never in that much of a rush. It's three turns and the thing is on there. No bent up valves, no leaking air which means more accurate pressure measurement. As for the valve core issue, I'll admit I had that happen twice in three years of owning a Lezyne pump. But this is something that I think you should check as normal maintenance from time to time anyway, and as a rider of tubeless wheels, it's something that I'm especially conscious of. If you are really worried about it or are in that big of a rush, or you used disc wheels, the provided Slip Chuck attachment should solve all of those problems. Just thread it into the Flip-Thread chuck and keep there. Then all you have to do is slip in on and off. I cannot comment on how well it works, because I've never used it. Like I said, I like the Flip-Thread chuck so I've never been compelled to try it out, though I'd be willing to bet that it works great, just like every other Leznyne product I've ever used.
Ascetically, the pump is as exquisite as a pump can be. The black anodization seems plenty durable and gives the pump a cool stealth look. While I can't say that I've ever bought a pump for it's visual appeal, I have not bought a pump before because it looked cheap or dainty. This pump clearly looks nor is either. I have no doubts that this pump will serve me well for many trips to come. If you need a good pump that is portable, I 'd strongly suggest the Lezyne Travel Floor Drive. Lezyne is a brand you can depend on for quality and this pump is surely no exception.
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