Old Avocet computer still works
 

The LBS guys thought it was funny when I brought my Gitane Tour de France in and they saw the old Avocet computer was still working. Anyone still have one of these or even instructions that can be scanned so I can figure out how to set it properly? I have to keep that vintage theme you know.

sheldon has writeups for many computers.
Avocet has instructions on their site

I don't see anything funny about it. My Avocet 40 still works fine. As a matter of fact, I think it updates faster than some of the cheap bike computers available now.

Anyway, here's a link to the Avocet computer manual download page.

Hell yah, I've got a bunch of old computers, including Avocets, that still work. . . some more than others.

I have at least 3 Avocets and ordered batteries from Avocet months ago but they never arrived. Anyone know where to get batteries?

One bikestore said goes to Radio Shack and have them match it up, which I did. A new battery powered it up, but doesn't have any functions but on...

Most models take a #357 silver oxide battery, but some take #386. Those should be commonly available. Try a drug store or grocery store.

Thanks guys - it's an Avocet 20. Found the instruction manual on the link to the Avocet site, recalibrated and am good to go. By the way the battery in the unit is an Energizer #386.

I thought it would have a long cord with a 3-prong plug...

I have an Avocet 30 instruction on PDF. Not sure how helpful it will be to you, but maybe it's similar. PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you.

Hey - is the manual for that model Avocet on their site? Funny to see above....I'm also in Knoxville TN & I have one of these that's installed and works fine (other than reading consistently about 45% of actual speed....it must have defaulted to settings for a bmx bike-ha!). I found a nice, inexpensive array of cyclocomputer batteries at my local Harbor Freight but trying the usual combo of keys on my Avocet has me thinking I need to brush up on Fortran or something to be able to figure it out.

To call anything LCD and digital, OLD, strikes me as funny.........

25 years isn't young either....

I still have a working HP35 as well as a HP 41CX. LED and digital is getting up there but LCD is still current technology. The first computer system I worked on for Uncle Sam was vacuum tube, a pair of Univac 1103A computers at CINCLANTFLT HQ in good old Norfolk, VA.

Cycle computers are still new technology as far as I am concerned.

Here's a link to the Avocet 30 and 31 manual, neighbor. :)l

"LCDs" (Liquid Crystal Display) are still used in most instrument panels for cars, watches and many electronics. As a previous poster said, it's current technology. What's pretty much dissapeared are "VFDs" (Vacuum Flourescent Display) which I think was the earliest IC (Integrated circuit) type, digital electronic displays.

lol. I have one of those still in the original box just waiting for me to do a restoration on a bike of the same vintage.

My 20+ year old Avocet still works perfectly... and I love it's old fashioned simplicity. :)
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...e/IMG_2659.jpg

To calibrate it, just go to the big D odometer mode, press and hold both buttons, and then cycle the number up until you get to the mm diameter of your wheel.:thumb:

Don't sweat the battery issue, just find one that's the same diameter, and shim the back with a little round piece of innnertube. ;)


Greg

My Avocet 20 has the green phosphor screen just like the Tektronix 40something machines...

:D

Mine has a crank... ;)

Had a Cannondale computer (yes, they made one) back in the 80s that lasted over 80,000 miles.

I have one of these also but was never able to get it calibrated properly. The Avocet manual link will probably be a big help. .....I put a 357 battery in mine and it seemed to work fine.

I also have an Avocet odometer that's with an odometer run by a rubber 'band' off the front axle....I don't use that one and have no idea how it's calibrated.

I have 2 avocet 20's and both of them are missing the battery door, anyone have an extra one and a source for such an item.. I went to avocets site and they used to have an accessories section but it now gone..

Hey socal,

I lost mine years ago and just used a little cut out round piece of thick innertube and it works fine.

Greg

All 8 of my bikes (mostly steel with DT shifters) have Avocet 30s on them. All the info you really need.