The Avocet 45 is a wonderful cyclometer. It has lasted me for years and years and functions well beyond what'd I'd expect for such a small package. It is pretty weatherproof (this is Seattle), rugged (I've smacked it, dropped it down stairs, etc), cool looking, has a great display, and is easier to use than a doorbell.

I have noticed that I need to replace the battery about once a year, perhaps more often.

It don't get better than this. Functionality, value, performance, looks (it's sexy on your handlebar). Besides, it's a great way to find a date (Soooo, what's YOUR cadence?)

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None.

Great altitude - it's always right on!

Auto shutoff - mine stays on all the time & EATS batteries. I'm lucky to get six months on a pair.

Great computer, except for the battery issue. It's the best computer I've had.

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Earlier Avocet models

The only computer I know that mounts to the rear wheel hub. This is important for me because I also have a bike trainer and like my computer to be functional whether I'm on the trail or using my trainer.

Battery Life - if you don't plan to use it for several weeks or months - you should put it in sleep mode.

Cadence magnet mount is fragile. It mounts to the crankarm. I lost it after about one month of use. I must have scrubbed it off with my shoe while pedalling.

The loser who made the review below obviously doesn't realize that computers don't work without power. You can't fault a computer for poor performance if the battery dies.

In my experience, the Avocet 45tt is a pretty reliable computer. Despite the weaknesses stated above, it has all the functions I need (Max, Average, Current speed, Time, Estimated Riding Time, Countdown stopwatch, Cadence meter). It also only requires one battery to work (some require two) and the Avocet has a good display despite its small size.

Again, the best feature is the fact that it is a rear wheel mounted computer. This is handy if you have an indoor trainer and want the computer to work while training at home.

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Nashbar wireless piece of crap, Old Paramount/Schwinn computer (that was great until I broke it)

I currently have 4, in the past destroyed 2 (Incidents with a tree, and a boulder). Low profile. Large display, Posi-click buttons, simple screen navigation and installation. Quick and easy to find the most pertinent information. Three main views - Time, Speed, Distance. Cadence/Gear inch option. Relatively waterproof. One of my favorites.

Cadence fails in the slightest rainfall. Wired. Battery life. Wired pick up sensor doesn't fit modern frames.

No computer is perfect. I bought my first 45tt back in '94? Whatever, whenever they first came out. Wiring harness was designed for steel framed road bikes.
Positioning the pick up on the frame/fork can be challenging. I've had to be a little creative in mounting both the magnet and pick up sensor - especially on the TT bike. Hub mount magnet works with bladed spokes - need accesories for disc/TT wheels.

Most computer speed/distance errors are because of magnet/sensor positioning. I haven't had CPU errors like other reviewers, but I've owed 6 units - 4 current, 2 destroyed by impact related incidents. (My collar bone is fine, thanks for wondering). Most of my problems have been rememidied by replacing the wired pick up, or adjusting the sensor position.

Yes, the computer says use the 675 Zinc/Oxide battery (2 year life - hah!) - but the waterproof computer doesn't allow enough oxygen to pass to the 675 battery - so you have to use a 357. I replace batteries on Jan 1, and again in July.

While becoming less easily available, it's still my favorite. Yes it lacks some of the data available on newer computers - it's simplicity is why I still use it.

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Cyclosport, Specialized, VDO, Cateye

Accurate, lots of features, small size and pretty

Eats battery, LCD display is not reliable

Since one of my US friend gave me one Avocet 15 as a gift about 10 years ago, I'm in love with it, I rode my bike to work for several years just because of it. I bought my current Avocet 45tt in San Francisco about 7 years ago, compairing the prices you guys paid, I found $115.- is way too high! But it's much better than the 15! I like its accuracy and dual display (Current Speed with Avg. Speed, for example, is my favorite combination).
Since I bought my first car about 5 years ago, I left my Avocet alone for about 5 years, meanwhile, the battery leaks, and the computer was almost dead when I found it in my drawer 2 months ago (missing / random LCD or sometimes totally dead), but my Avocet 15, whose' battery also leaks, worked immediately after I installed a new battery.
It took me 2 weeks to repair my 45tt, first I tried some electronic contact cleaner (spray), but it only worked for several days before it died again, then I suspect the rubber conductor between the PCB board and the LCD failed, but it was not - I installed the suspected rubber into my 15, and it worked (in fact, one rubber conductor works well even after I tore it apart accidentally). But just before I was about to throw it away, it worked again after I carefully cleaned every possible short-circuits on the PC board and the contacts to the rubber conductor (both on the PCB and LCD panel), You could imagine how happy I was! (it would be a pain to go back to the old Avocet 15 if you've tried a 45tt)
Now I noticed the battery life issue, the old manual recommends 675 Zinc-Air batteries, but it's usually for hearing aids and it's hard to find (it's a 600mAH battery), and no wonder I didn't noticed this when my 45tt is new with it's Avocet 675 battery, and I noticed that the new manual don't recommend this type of battery any more. The common alkaline LR44 or A76 batteries most common here in China (110mAH) only last for 1 month if you do not set the 45tt to SLEEP after each use, and you lost your calibration and total distance! A SR44 or 357 Silver Oxide (165mAH) should be a littel bit better. The 2 year battery life on the manual could be misleading unless the hardware is different now.
But if you're a serious rider who require that kind of accuracy (accurate even at 5KM/H) and all those riding information (average, max speed, riding time), the 45tt is great, the battery life is an issue, and be sure to write down your total distance and calibration number often, you'll need this when the battery dies again.

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Avocet 15

Appeared durable and worked fine at first.

After the battery went dead, the computer went dead. This happen on two Avocet 45 Computers.

You pay a premium for this computer and then it takes a dump after the battery goes bad. Seems like the biking industries first disposable computer. DON'T BUY. LOOK ELSEWHERE.

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Planet Bike, Cat Eye, & Specialized.

Excellent computer and good visible screen

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I have this one from 1991 and he is still running, that you will have to change the battery is normal after during 2 years. It still works great. This is a review about the Avocet 40!!! I have also the 25/45 on other bikes and they work great as well. The mounting is good enough for rough rides in trails. Maybe i am a lucky guy but i don't get it that many riders loose their Avocet.

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none

Very water resistant. Cadence optional.
Ride time and total time. Good price.

None identified yet.

I purchased this computer to replace a Trek Radar unit. The Trek totally died every time it got wet. I have literally soaked the 45tt many times with no problem. The compact size and many features make this a great computer for the money. This is a great road bike computer - I don't know how it performs off-road.

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Trek radar.

I installed an Avocet 45 on my bent. It worked great for a while, but then
started flaking out -- showing speeds well below the actual speed. I got a
replacement at the bike store and it immediately started flaking out in the same
way. Finally I got smart -- I replaced it with a cheaper Trek Sonic which
worked just fine.

I love my avocet computer. It was easy to install and align. I thought the magnet would come off easily but i have abused the computer and it has survived. I ha ve gone through water and it still works. Props to Avocet for building a quality product.