Lezyne Flow SL Cage

Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it?

Lezyne says: “Built from durable, fiber-reinforced Composite Matrix construction, this cage offers strength and reliability while maintaining easy bottle access via a smart, side-load design – perfect for compact frames. It’s engineered to hold bottles securely, regardless of terrain. Oval mounting holes allow for fine tuning of the cage’s position on most bike frames. The graphics have been updated from the original Flow Cage SL.

“Sold individually or in pairs. Also available in a left-side configuration.”

The SL are a good choice for bike packing builds where the main triangle can be filled with luggage and some suspension configurations.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product

Fibre reinforced composite matrix monocoque construction

Weight: 52.5g

Dimensions: 148mm, 80.5mm, 83.3mm

Features: Side Load

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The Lezyne Flow SL Cage has impressed with its balance of secure bottle retention and convenient release. I’ve had no issues with bigger trade bottles, and indeed, different profiles. The composite construction feels very solid, and there’s been no hint of bottle chatter when thundering along gravel roads, forest trails, and bridle paths. Side entry cages have traditionally been marketed as for smaller compact geometry framesets and in my experience perform very well. However, the Lezyne would be a very good fit on larger semi-compact bike packing and adventure touring lorries where bags can consume a lot of main triangle. In a pinch, I’ve also managed to port a 1-litre soft drinks bottle securely and without issue.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Pretty much everything, from the shapely sculpted design and choice of colours, through to the left or right hand options that continue a very rider-focused flavour. Then of course, there’s the reliable retention and release with various bottle sizes and profiles across rough surfaces.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing specific. However, in common with other composites, the lighter colours seem a little trickier to keep showroom fresh, whether it be spatter from energy drinks, oily finger marks, wet, greasy winter roads, or caked-on trail grot. The only other consideration is that the very modern shape might not marry so well with older framesets/bikes.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

£18 is arguably competitive, but there are cheaper and dearer. Patrick Joscelyne was impressed by this Restrap Side Release Bottle Cage. It’s a little cheaper at £15 and is an ambidextrous design with good adjustability and a strap for added security along rougher ground. At the upper end of the market Fidlock Twist (£37) is a bottle and base combo that comes in three sizes from 450 up to 600ml and saves a lot of space thanks to the magnetic attachment system. The bottle is a high-quality BPA with a good flow rate. The Topeak Ninja Master + Cage SK comes in at £20 and combines a cage with accessories. However, Rhian Atherton found the combo could be a little bulky for small frames. The Topeak Dualside Cage EX is another reversible model made from engineering grade polymer. It’s also slightly cheaper at £13.99. However, the old Fordist, ‘Any colour you like so long as it’s black,’ might not suit everyone. The £17.99 Elite Prism Recycled Side Entry Bottle Cage is made from recycled materials and available in plain black, or black with green contrast. There’s also a black only carbon variant but that hikes the price to £32.99.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Monocoque design and styling might look out of place on a classic road bike. Otherwise, a beautifully designed and executed cage that is well suited to compact geometry framesets, bike packing, and gravel builds.