Conference noted::bicycle

    My experience with the Avocet 50 on the mtn bike (ridden all
    winter) and the one on my road bike (fair weather only) is
    that the cold weather kills off the batteries.  kb    

I've never had battery probs with my Avocet 50 but I know people who
have had. Anyway, there's a trick that Avocet want you to do when you
put the batteries in, namely, put both batteries in, wait a few seconds
(less than 15), then take out one battery, then put that battery back
in again. Strange, eh. Try that when you get your new batteries. Oh, and
some people think you shouldn't leave the display on altitude when you're
not using the computer.

There are a lot of other notes about the A50 in here somewhere, could be
worth reading those.


Rod

I experienced same trouble.

I tried to change battery 2 times, but it only worked about a month !!!

    I bought a 50 about a year and a two years ago, after I had it for about
    nine months and the battery died after using it on both the road and 
    moutain bikes. So I went in and got new ones and found out that the is 
    a special battery for the 50, the other batteries for the 30 series
    etc., will fit but aren't the right one. So when you get new ones make
    sure they are to the 50 series only! Hope it helps.
    
    Tim

    
    Rod,
    
    I would just like to point out that if the problem with the battery is
    the cold, then the only time that you would experience problem is when
    Rod W is visiting.
    
    Now there's a test. Give Rod W an A50 and see how long the batteries
    last....  :*)
    
    Graham.

    
    Howdy,  Last night while getting the bike ready for the season, 
            I noticed my avocet 50 was dead. After reading this stream 
            and someone pointing out there are different batterries for 
            50s although the 30s fit, does this mean you get the batterries
            at a bike shop or any electronic store will have them?
            I doubt if the regular stores will know the difference. 
     
            Also, does anyone have a manual for the 50? I could borrow 
            make copies of the setups. Or can provide me with copies
            I would greatly appriciate it as I searched everywhere for 
            mine and can't seem to find it.
    
    Shaw

    don't get your batteries from a bike shop. they'll charge at least
    double for them. head for Walmart, K Mart, etc... 
    
    Chip

    The Avocet 50's battery (386, 386A) is $1.00 at Spag's.
    

    
    so which one is it. 386 or 386A

    I think they're (386/386A) interchangeable.

	My last Avocet 50 has deteriorated with some kind of chronic
	problem where it can't figure altitude no matter how many new
	batteries I put in.

	So I wanted to buy another one, and I've found they're not being
	made anymore?!

	Two questions:

	1.  Does anybody know where I could still get a new Avocet 50?
		(I live in Colorado)

	2.  If not, does anybody have comments about the Cateye computer
		that tracks altitude?  I saw in the latest Performance
		catalog that there's one Cateye model that does altitude.
		
		Specific question (OK, I had 3 questions):  Does the Cateye
		keep track of altitude gain even if it's not registering
		any speed?  The reason I ask, is I have an Avocet 40 on
		my bicycle right now & I'm happy with it except for not
		having the altitude.  I'd prefer to just carry the Cateye
		along too for the altitude but use the Avocet for the
		speed & distance.

    FWIW, I have one Avocet 50 where the altitude function has gone
    south and another that's flakey (and no, it's not changing barometric
    pressure)... i.e. they've turned themselves into Avocet 40's without
    the extra digit of accuracy and $50 rebate.  The altitude is cool
    when it works tho.
    Kratz 

I recently bought the cateye computer that tracks altitude, and yes, you can put 
it in a mode such that it sums altitude change even when it isn't registering 
speed.

    Does the cateye measure altitude "gained only" per ride?  I actually
    have one and thought it did a running total of altitude gained. It
    also has a function that measures the change in altitude from the 
    beginning of the ride to the end ... which I thought was useless.
    Just trying to figure that beast out.
    -Larry

    
    	If you start and end the trip at the same point, delta altitude
    	isn't a very interesting ride statistic.  8^)
    

re .14

It keeps a running total of altitude gained; you can't reset it between rides.

re .15

Well, you do get to see if the local air pressure changed.

Have you tried calling Avocet USA? Their number is 1-800-227-8346. Since you
said you'd just take the Cat-Eye unit in your pocket anyway you might consider
buying the Avocet watch with the altimiter.

You might also try Bicycle Classics who specialize in so-called "new old stock".
Their number is 617-455-0590.

Karol

I've been having problem with my Avocet 50. (What a suprise.) But they have not
been with the altimiter. They have been with the distance/speed. sometimes when
I'm riding along it flaks out and tells me I'm going 0 miles/hour. Other times
when it's standing still it'll say I'm moving, usually at a high speed.
Sometimes I'm moving in excess of 60 mph. I always have found that fooling
around with the contacts between the unti and the mounting bracket and between
the cable and the sensor seem to work. Sometimes I just resort to buying a new
sensor wire. Is this a common problem? I am getting really sick of farting
around with this thing.

Karol

    re: .17 Do your batteries tend to wear out in the matter of months?
    I keep changing mine.  
    
    steve

    mine have been good for over a year now..... ;-)
    
    Shaw

Sometimes they last as long as a year and sometimes they expire within 3 or four
months. Another quirky behavior that makes one want to find something else. The
Cateye AT-100 look like a nice unit.

Karol

    The contacts on my Av50s need cleaned several times a year.  On the
    handlebar "receiver", I use a very small flat head screwdriver to
    dig under the small pins and then use a small circular file to 
    clean the top of them.  Bend the pins up slightly with the screwdriver
    while you're there.  Likewise, use the same small circular file to
    clean the contacts on the bottom of the computer.  Finally, make
    sure the contacts that connect to the sending unit are still firmly
    attached.  If you don't ride in the rain, you can probably get away
    with this just once/twice a season.  .02 Kratz

I have an old Vetta cordless which works fine - could it be a C-300?  It 
works fine and does away with all the fiddling with cables.  The sender 
battery probably needs changing twice a year and the one in the unit about 
once a year.  It survived the last wet brevet better than the balls in my 
Campag rear hub !!

    
    
    	Another VETTA (C300) user.  No contacts to clean...wires to
    tangle..And I'm still using the original battery(s) after 20 months/
    2000+ miles and ALL kinds of weather.  It did act a little flaky 
    when I forgot to remove it while spraying with a high-pressure hose.
    I opened it and dried it, and now it works fine..again

>    The contacts on my Av50s need cleaned several times a year.  On the
>    handlebar "receiver", I use a very small flat head screwdriver to
>...

Thanks. I have been told that a safe way to clean the contacts is with a pencil
eraser which I have been doing. I finally got fed up last weekedn when it
fritzed out on me again and bought a new wiring kit. If that doesn't fix it I'm
going to buy a different brand.

Karol