Submitted by
bobwemer
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2008
Strengths: The buttons have a very hard and audible click. One doesn't accidentally push one. I have several of these computers and have been using Avocets since the early 1990s. I rode from L.A. to Boston this spring using one in all kinds of weather.
Weaknesses: I would like another one for another bike but they are not available, now. When I contact the company they say "maybe next year". This is about the third year in a row that I have gotten that response from them ?????
Bottom Line:
In reading some of the other review complaints:
1. It does not matter where the sensor and magnet are mounted as the sensor counts one revolution whether the magnet is close to the hub or far out from the hub.
2. I have not had problems in the rain if the battery cover o-ring is in place.
3. If the computer is falling off easily, it is not completely seated. There is a hard click to completely seat it. If seated completely, it is hard to get past the click when removing. It will not fall off on its own. It has to be forced off.
4. A calibration factor can be experimentally determined or calculated for about any device one wants to mount the Avocet 25 on. Just determine the millimeters per wheel revolution and enter that number. I have been able to calibrate mine within 0.01 of a mile.
Similar Products Used: Other types that have very wishy washy buttons and can be accidentally reset.
Bike Setup: Road bike, mountain bike, tandem, spinner, Nordic Trak, and walk-behind lawn mower.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Wemer
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa, USA
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2006
Strengths: I have described the strength in detail in another review.
Weaknesses: Those who are having problems with the "waterproofness" of Avocet computers may be damaging or losing the rubber o-ring on the battery door when changing batteries. I have used Avocet computers in downpours without problems.
Bottom Line:
Avocet bike computers are the highest quality bike computers that that I have used. I love the "hard click" buttons. One doesn't accidently bump and push one. One knows when he has pushed a button.
This does not criticize the new breed of GPS computers. I have a Garmin Forerunner 201 which is fantastic but then it is much more than a standard bike computer.
Submitted by
Robert Wemer
from Montezuma, Iowa, USA
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2006
Strengths: Very durable. I like the hard to push buttons with the obvious click - one knows for sure that he has pushed a button. Have had no trouble riding in rain.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Have used Avocets for ~ 15 years. Have used all models with both the circular magnets and the single magnets. Both work great. I love the feel of the buttons.
Those who have a problem with the computer falling off must not be sliding the computer through the final "hard click" point at the end of the slide. It will slide on easily but the last 1/8" or so is a very hard click. Properly installed, an Avocet is very hard to start to slide off. One must first get it past that first 1/8" hard click.
Similar Products Used: None. Other brands that I have looked at have very wishy washy buttons.
Bike Setup: Road bikes, road tandem (spliced two computers in parallel on one sensor wire for front and rear riders), indoor spinner (two computers spliced together for speed/distance and cadence readout), nordic track, walk-behind commercial lawn mower. Have also adapted a second Avocet & sensor to crank arm on road bike for cadence read-out of instantaneous, average, and maximum cadence. One can figure our a calibration factor for about any application. One can get an initial calibration factor by tire size or rolling the tire. The calibration factor can then be fine-tuned by riding the bike a measured mile or more and calculating the % error to adjust the calibration factor by. I can fine tune mine to the nearest 1/100th of a mile.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn Vernes
from Middletown, CT
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2004
Strengths: Can't think of any, to be honest.
Weaknesses: Not sealed against water.
Bottom Line:
The one I had stopped working the first time it got wet. Inspection revealed why- the battery door was not sealed in any way. No O-ring, no wiper seal, nothing. This is totally unacceptable on something, like a bicycle, that is used outside. I only used it less than a month because it only lasted that long. Don't buy it.
Similar Products Used: Various Cateyes (which all stank), Specialized Speedzone Comp (which works great). Vetta C10 (which lasted 9 years on a road bike)
Bike Setup: Sugar 1, Bomber Z1 Bam, XTR, Avid rim brakes, ceramic rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Garth Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Whittier, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001
Strengths: Good mount, withstood several drops without problems, water resistent, easy to operate
Weaknesses: recent ones made in China have had problems with the mount and the sensor
Bottom Line:
I've bought five of these for various bikes (two for the tandem). The earlier ones we got that were made in Taiwan never had any problems. The last two were made in China, and have had several problems with the sensor going bad and with bad electrical connection at the mount. I won't get any more unless they quit making them in China.
The mounting method is very solid. I wonder if others who have said it fell out accidentally were too timid to push it hard enough to make it click in. It really takes a lot of pressure to get the computer on and off the mount. We've never had trouble with the 25 when it got wet either. I don't mind the hard-to-push buttons at all. (It's pretty typical to use the thumb anyway.) The buttons give a very definite click when you push them, so you don't have to wonder if you pushed it hard enough.
Bike Setup: (four different bikes-- three road and one inexpensive MTB)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
David C. Menges
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, US
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001
Strengths: Solid construction, intuitive operation, compact, easy to get parts
Weaknesses: Wiring only average
Bottom Line:
Our family has 3 Avocets - a 30 and two 25s which are 13, 7, and 1 year(s) old respectively. The older two have had one wiring break apiece, both repaired at home.
I recently looked at Sigma's 600 and Cateye's Enduro II. The Sigma has nice numbers but flimsy wiring (only $10 at Nashbar though). The Cateye looks beefy, but it's operation is non-intuitive and slow, and at $30 at the high end of what I'm willing to pay.
Funny that a 13+ year old design is still best. Nashbar sometimes has them on sale for $20. Parts are affordable and easy to find at www.avocet.com.
Submitted by
Adam Paternostro
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, FL USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000
Strengths: looks, easy to read display, and easy to access functions
Weaknesses: instructions stink, keys are too hard to press when mountain bike riding, resetting should be easy but likes to set itself into kilometers
Bottom Line:
I like the way it looks and for the price had the functions I wanted. The instructions are just down right terrible. The pictures that don't match the words and give a false example of how to install. I actually sent them an email telling them just how bad their instructions read. In addition the rubber device that is suppose to place the receiver close to the wheel is too small and I ended having to shimmy it. It might be a good product, but I'll never know since I probably do not have it install right. Also, the keys are hard to press for their size. Not that they are impossible to press, just take some effort and concentration, which I can't afford to spare while mountain biking. The next time I'll probably look around for something that is easier to use while riding and fits my bike better.
Who should buy it? People who like instructions that make you frustrated.
Submitted by
DC Page
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1999
Strengths: Large digits, dual display and independant stopwatch.
Weaknesses: No quick release (as far as I can tell.)
Bottom Line:
The Avocet 25 bike computer has a strong durable case, reasonably thick cord, a well made and robust receiver and is water resistant for when you get unexpectedly caught in the rain (not tried, as I won't ride in the rain on purpose.) Setup up was a bit of a problem as I wanted utmost accuracy. I inputted my tire and rim imformation easily enough. But I couldn't figure out where the transmitter (which attaches to the spoke) was supposed to be positioned. One of the reasons I bought the Avocet is because it had the single magnet transmitter like the Shimano Flight Deck, which is the one I really wanted, but couldn't justify its cost. Another reason I liked the Avocet 25 was because transmitter replacements cost only $3 US. However, I didn't find any instructions in the manual as to where on the spoke the magnet was to be placed. I mean, it could basically go anywhere. Close to the hub, or close to the rim wall with accuracy being potentially affected at both extremes. With a look at the approximate position in the manual's diagram, I finally just guessed and placed it about 3 cm from the 26 inch rim wall or closer to my brake pads than the hub. My old CCM computer had the transmitter close to the hub, that's why I wasn't sure. Anyhow, I'm fairly happy with it's current position as the accuracy comes very close to the distances measured in my car for similar trips. Accuracy is what I wanted, providing that using my car's odometer, (resettable thingy) is a decent indicator or benchmark for determining the valid readings of the Avocet. If it is. I'm close. So it ended up that I can adjust the accuracy to within a 10m error per kilometre with this excellent product. With a bit of tinkering it can be adjusted to reflect the distance and speed indicators of any car, motorbike etc. (all of which should have similar readings anyhow.) So. Buy this US made product if you want an accurate bike computer at a reasonable price. Since there's no quick release (as far as I know), and has been a bit of hassle for me to get to work, I'll give it a 4.
Similar Products Used: CCM something (had quick release)
Bike Setup: CCM Heat MTB with SR Suntour front suspension
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Racer
from Springfield,MA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 1999
Strengths: this computer is very durable and can take a beating without losing info or doing damage to the screen or innards. the dispay is easy to read and has a lot of features for the money
Weaknesses: The mount is not desingned very well, it comes off to easy. It looses information and gives saratic information when it is wet.
Bottom Line:
The computer is very durable but won't work well in the rain. The first time I rode it for an hour in the rain the next day it was fin, the second time it didn't work ever again no matter what ajustments me or my mechanic did. The mount could be better put together. It's a damn good piece of equiptment but don't chance it in the rain for too long it will turn into a useless piece of crap in less time than it took you to buy it. Otherwise it is well worth the money
Bike Setup: 98 gary fisher with rock shox 99 sid's full XT with sram 9.0 sl rear derailer and shifters,XTR hubs on X517 rims DT spokes and niples
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross-Country Rider
from Logan, UT
Date Reviewed: April 20, 1999
Strengths: All the functions
Weaknesses: Slides off too easily
Bottom Line:
The computer itself works wonderfully, for the $20.00 dollar pricetag I got it for it was a good deal. It has all the functions I really want and need at this point and seems very durable. Unfortunately I have only tested its durability due to the 25's one glaring weakness. Here in Utah a lot of the trails I ride are covered with loose rocks that can make for a bumpy ride. When I first started out with the computer it would lose its connection frequently from the jolting that the trail caused, although it never actually fell off. It did fall off fairly easily a couple of times when my bike accidently fell over. At any rate this problem quickly became a major nuisance so I went about resolving the problem. I found that by placing a single strip of black electricians tape over the mounting bracket where the computer slides on that subsequently the computer fits very snug and can still, albeit with a bit more effort, be slid on and off of the mounting bracket without trouble. Since doing this I have ridden on the same rough trails and haven't lost connection once. Fortunately my bike hasn't accidently fallen over anymore, but if it did I think the computer is snug enough that it still wouldn't come flying off. The loose fit problem would have easily kept the Avocet 25 from getting a perfect score, but because that problem is quickly, easily, and cheaply solved I can just as easily give it a five. The computer itself is great and at twenty bucks make it that much sweeter.
Submitted by
John D
a racer
from Columbia, Maryland
Date Reviewed: November 21, 1998
Bottom Line:
This computer is reasonably priced, easy to use and has all of the functions that you really need. My major complaint is with the design of the mount. The mount is designed so that the computer can be easily removed from the mount and placed on another bike. Unfortunately, it can be removed too easily. So far I've lost 3 Avocet 25's on the trail from falls ranging from mild to moderate. There should be some way of positively locking the computer to the mount so that it doesn't fall off under moderate shock. 4 for the computer, 1 for the mount. I'll round it up to 3 overall.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
erik baier
a weekend warrior
from boston, ma
Date Reviewed: June 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
my wife bought me an avocet 25 last year. after fooling ith the placement on the spokes for correct mileage, and trying to learn it while riding, (no instructions) i think it is great. i have banged it a few times while crashing, had it pulled off from branches and it works o.k. as the battery dies, slowly, i get blank-outs on the screen.otherwise, a useful and rugged tool.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan garcia
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: May 8, 1998
Bottom Line:
Purchased the Avocet 25 after reading the good reviews here, and I can say that it has met my expectations so far. Had a Vetta several years ago and liked it a lot, but worried after reading some other reviews about it. Very happy with the 25....easy installation and a several more features than the 15 version. Very durable, too.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
spoondadee
a cross-country rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1998
Bottom Line:
I figured that I could increase the number of NJ people to 75%. The avocet 25 is a sweet little machine. I think the respponse is good and it's not too difficult to fudge around with. The only thing I don't like is the fact that one can't set the total distance. Mine started to wig out and I just popped the dbattery off and put it back and everything was okay. But now I lost the 150 mi. total distance that I had. But if I really wanted that I guess I could have spent more money. This thing is pretty damn cool. The dual display rocks!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott
a weekend warrior
from new jersey
Date Reviewed: January 24, 1998
Bottom Line:
This computer does everything I need. I especially like the dual-display because you can watch your speed along with the clock. It just barely fit around my indy fork, but otherwise it is easy to install. I have no regrets for buying this computer. It is easy to click it off your bike when not riding so keep it inside during those cold winter nights
