Bicycle Mechanics - is there a low battery indicator on an avocet 35?

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ebbett
12-06-05, 02:49 PM
I have an Avocet 35 bike computer that's been on my bike for several years. It recently stopped working. I don't know if it's the battery or it's just broken. Is there some sort of low battery indicator on these things? It was working last week and this week it's not.

HillRider
12-06-05, 03:45 PM
The "low battery indicator" is that the computer stops working. If you are observant, you may notice the display isn't as contrasty as normal as the battery gets weaker but you get no other warning. The batteries do die fast.

I'm a bit surprised you have an Avocet computer of any kind still working. I was a devoted Avocet fan starting in 1985 until I noticed the prices escalating and the quality falling off a cliff. I also found battery life rather short and often replacing a dead battery failed to bring the computer back to life.

I switched to Cat-Eye Mity/Enduro's about 1999 after being thoroughly disgusted with Avocet's dismal reliability. The Cat-Eyes have been completely reliable, weather proof, very reasonably priced and have extraordinary battery life.
kahn
12-06-05, 07:06 PM
I've got two 50's with the altimeter function. Maybe I don't ride enough to have killed them but one of them flew off the bike years ago when I and the bike were creamed by a pickup truck. Hours later, my friend found it at the site, still intact. Moved it to the new bike.

The 50 shows it is dying by showing varied and odd altimeter functions sometimes before, as the other poster noted, the readout fades.

A $3.00 battery might be worth the investment.

ebbett
12-07-05, 01:14 PM
I got the Avocet in '95 for my mountain bike. A few rides later, the wiring got caught on something and ripped out. I shelved it until a few years ago when I got into road riding. The battery was dead. I popped a new batt. in and things were fine. Two riding buddies have had bad experiences w/ Avocet too, but mine was working fine until recently. Batteries aren't too expensive, but once I open up the package, I can't return it. I've been looking for a good excuse to get a new computer.