Test: Every year again - the temperatures are rising, the buds are sprouting, the days are getting longer. In many places the bicycles are being brought out of hibernation and it is also the time when discounters are offering bicycles. Lidl is the first, where clothing and accessories can be bought from today (March 12.03th). We took a quick look at the highlights.
Crivit cycling shirt
Basic information:
- Breathable material
- Back pocket
- Reflex inserts
- Full length zip
- Price: € 7,99
Our impression:
Why Lidl does not call the child by its name and offers a "bicycle shirt" instead of a bicycle jersey will probably remain a mystery, but no reason for confusion: This is undoubtedly a jersey. And to be honest, not a bad one at all. The design may not knock anyone off their feet, but otherwise the cycling shirt cuts a fine figure. The fit is surprisingly good and the material doesn't feel too cheap either. Of course, you have to make compromises when it comes to workmanship: untidy seams, a zipper that doesn't seem particularly durable and a strong "plastic smell" are probably due to the low price. But it offers useful features with its sufficiently large back pockets and the anti-slip waistband on the back. Of course, we haven't been able to test the breathability yet, but given the low price, the jersey is definitely worth a test.
Crivit cycling shorts
Basic information:
- With seat pad
- anti-slip inserts
- Reflex inserts
- Price: € 7,99
Our impression:
We were particularly excited about the trousers, which are available in two lengths. We opted for the slightly longer variant, which reaches just above our knees. The seat upholstery is very thick - it seems to be well made, but the surrounding seam could cause unpleasant chafing, especially in the front area. The material used is very thin - it should be breathable, but we have doubts about durability. Here, too, we discover several untidy seams and loose threads. The non-slip bands on the leg ends and the small reflective inserts are nice.
Crivit functional shirt
Basic information:
- Mesh inserts under the arms
- Sashes
- Windproof in the stomach area
- Price: € 7,99
Our impression:
Of course, a short test of a functional shirt without real practical experience is only a sample with limited value. Nevertheless, one has to say that the shirt makes a really excellent impression at first glance. It fits very well and offers reinforcements and airy inserts in the right places. On a short walk around the block, the abdominal area actually turned out to be much warmer than the rest. But in the mixture of polyester and polyamide, we got quite warm after a short time and the moisture transfer certainly cannot keep up with more expensive counterparts. Nevertheless: The shirt is certainly worth recommending for everyday tours without great sporting demands.
Crivit short finger gloves
Basic information:
- Gel padding in the grip area
- Velcro closure at waist
- reflectors on top
- Price: € 3,49
Our impression:
The short-finger gloves don't even cost €4 - and you can tell that: the workmanship is very bad. The extremely thin upper material already gets out of shape when you put it on, the finger ends look as if they were simply cut off. The inner surface is uncomfortably thickly padded and the Velcro fastener no longer holds as it did after opening it twice. Even €3,49 is too much for that. By the way, the gloves are very large - size 9 is more like a 10 or even 11.
Crivit bike helmet
Basic information:
- 11 vents
- adjustable size
- Integrated rear light
- Weight: 280g (S/M)
- Price: € 9,99
Our impression:
A bike helmet for less than €10? Many probably wave it off in advance and in fact everyone must know for themselves how much their health is worth to them. But the Crivit helmet still meets the DIN standard EN 1078 for bicycle helmets and should at least offer basic protection. But that presupposes that you can also fix the helmet firmly on your head, which we just don't want to be able to do. As with more expensive helmets, the size can be adjusted using the rotary knob, but the helmet either fits too loosely or feels extremely uncomfortable in several places. This is partly due to the fact that the adjustment system is not padded on the side and cuts in noticeably. The 11 ventilation openings are quite small and sometimes arranged in a strange way - it is doubtful whether there is a constant air flow here. A nice feature is the integrated rear light, which is not particularly bright, but as additional lighting it certainly provides a safety plus.
Crivit floor pump
Basic information:
- Universal pump head for Schrader, Sclaverand and Dunlop
- Maximum pressure 8 bar
- Steel cylinder
- Price: € 6,99
Our impression:
A floor pump is part of the basic equipment of every cyclist - the cheap brand models usually start at €20-25, the Crivit pump costs just €7 - what can it do at this price? Well, the data is not bad to read: the pump head accepts all valve types and a maximum pressure of 8 bar is sufficient for most areas of application. The processing of the pump corresponds to the price. The foot is made of cheap plastic and is slippery and wobbles even when standing on the treads with your full weight. The grip is pleasantly rubberized on the top and the shape is okay too – not particularly ergonomic, but not really uncomfortable either. The performance is okay - the pump head works surprisingly well and sometimes better than some branded models. The pumping feeling is mixed, it rattles a bit inside and the operating forces are also quite high. In any case, from 5 bar, pumping becomes a feat of strength. The manometer is very small, but easy to read and proved to be surprisingly accurate in the test. So is the pump recommended? The Crivit pump is probably sufficient for everyday use on a city bike, but as you can see in our Leaderboard floor pumps sees, there are some very good pumps for a little more than 20€, which can then also be used for MTB and racing bikes without any problems.
Crivit lighting set
Basic information:
- LED lighting
- Including batteries and charger
- Toolless assembly
- Battery life (manufacturer information): front up to 7 hours, rear light up to 20 hours
- Price: € 12,99
Our impression:
If you look at the other prices, a lighting set for 13€ seems almost expensive - for this price you get almost cheap branded products. But on closer inspection, this is put into perspective: The scope of delivery not only includes AAA batteries for the rear light, but also four 1300mAh batteries for the front light. These can be charged directly in the lamp using the included charger. They are said to last up to 7 hours. The StvZo approval and the simple, tool-free but good fastening of the two lamps are also nice. The light yield at the front and rear is good, although the light cone at the front light is very inhomogeneous. Nevertheless: For daily use in the city, the set is definitely worth recommending and a real bargain.