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-   -   Rain Alerts? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1104939-rain-alerts.html)

RubeRad 04-20-17 04:41 PM

Cool. Writing a whole app is not in my wheelhouse, I only know a smattering of JavaScript. But that could be a good learning exercise.

Gresp15C 04-20-17 09:47 PM


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 19525984)
Cool. Writing a whole app is not in my wheelhouse, I only know a smattering of JavaScript. But that could be a good learning exercise.

Admittedly my "app" is 76 lines of JavaScript and HTML. It's only the second JavaScript program that I've ever written, and was a learning exercise for me.

KD5NRH 04-21-17 07:59 AM


Originally Posted by canklecat (Post 19525869)
Speaking of Siri speaking, I just remembered that Amazon finally added their version -- Alexa -- to many Kindle Fire tablets. Works great for quick stuff like "How's the weather today/this weekend?"

https://pics.onsizzle.com/people-in-...e-16141172.png

KD5NRH 04-21-17 08:10 AM


Originally Posted by Leebo (Post 19524958)
Patagoinia houdini wind/rain shell is like 5 oz or so, packs up small. Just carry that.

$100 to only be soaked from the waist down. What a deal.

Not everybody commutes to satisfy their exhibitionism fetish. My wicking shirt will dry a lot faster than my mountain shorts. Unfortunately, the tards over at Frogg Toggs can't figure out how to gusset rain pants so they won't rip out at the crotch if one dares to raise a foot high enough to clear a normal frame, and every rain cape under $200 appears to be either just a regular poncho not designed for riding or made of the Dollar Tree poncho cellophane that only survives if you put it on very carefully and then sit absolutely still.

alan s 04-21-17 09:17 AM

I'd suggest hiring a personal assistant to check the weather for you. Or get a damn smartphone like everyone else.

kickstart 04-21-17 09:23 AM


Originally Posted by alan s (Post 19527385)
I'd suggest hiring a personal assistant to check the weather for you. Or get a damn smartphone like everyone else.

Having a modern convenience to utilize a modern convenience.......


Nope, too radical. ;)

ItsJustMe 04-21-17 09:45 AM

I tried a poncho once. It nearly killed me. Turns out ponchos make fantastic sails to catch crosswinds and throw you in front of traffic.

RubeRad 04-21-17 09:47 AM


I'd suggest hiring a personal assistant to check the weather for you. Or get a damn smartphone like everyone else.
Why would you suggest that I do that, instead of using IFTTT to do exactly what I was looking for and no more?

LOL, the 'problem', niche and minor as it was, has been SOLVED since comment #6! And still everybody seems so angry, and think I'm stupid for not wanting to do the same thing they do!

RubeRad 04-21-17 09:49 AM


Originally Posted by KD5NRH (Post 19527187)
Every rain cape under $200 appears to be either just a regular poncho not designed for riding or made of the Dollar Tree poncho cellophane that only survives if you put it on very carefully and then sit absolutely still.

I'm pretty impressed with the quality of my Ikea rain cape. It was I think $6.99 or so, and it doesn't suck. If it had thumb loops, I'd actually call it "good". Gotta figure out a good way to DIY some.

no motor? 04-21-17 10:19 AM

After 4 pages and several days worth of replies I'm surprised no one has suggested a 1970's level answer, a weather radio. My alarm clock has the weather bands and can use one of them as the alarm. Easy peasy and no computerized stuff at all. Or you could look for a cat like my Mom's cat - she hides downstairs when it's going to rain.

RubeRad 04-21-17 11:38 AM

Interesting idea; but I'm not looking for an every-day solution, I'm particularly looking for an automated only-when-necessary solution (and that solution has been found: IFTTT)

Currently my radio alarm clock is carefully set to between-stations, so when it goes off it's white noise, not crappy music.

no motor? 04-21-17 12:16 PM

I can imagine life without a smartphone (at least for a while), but can't imagine not checking the weather. I've probably checked the weather a half dozen times already, as well as walked outside to see how it feels.

RubeRad 04-21-17 12:34 PM

I'm sure if I lived in a place that had weather, I'd feel the same.

canklecat 04-21-17 04:36 PM


Originally Posted by KD5NRH (Post 19527149)

LOL! I know, right?

A few years ago my mom was considering one of those emergency services that basically involves installing a microphone so the emergency response monitors can listen to you 24/7 in case you fall. She didn't like the idea of being spied on. Like she's giving away state secrets playing Mahjong all day and watching TMZ and ET at night.

Supposedly the version of Alexa in the Fire tablets is activated only when called on like, Siri. But who knows for sure.

I've resigned myself to the fact that all of my computers and devices are basically government spy tools that they'll let me operate for my own amusement, pretending to solve all the world's problems by posting memes on Facebook and whining about the government. :rolleyes:

no motor? 04-22-17 09:08 AM


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 19528003)
I'm sure if I lived in a place that had weather, I'd feel the same.

After I'd been commuting for a while I realized that during the spring and fall when the weather could change drastically and quickly it was better to be ready for just about anything. It got to be a lot more comfortable too knowing I could adapt to the changing conditions with clothes I had with me too and got to be one less thing to worry about.

RubeRad 04-22-17 03:17 PM


Originally Posted by no motor? (Post 19529750)
After I'd been commuting for a while I realized that during the spring and fall when the weather could change drastically and quickly...

...in Chicago. It's late April right now, and here in San Diego I'd give 50/50 odds no rain until November.

PatrickGSR94 04-24-17 07:45 AM


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 19522511)
Added an EDIT to the OP...

Yeesh, I'm starting to understand how mtnbke feels when somebody asks about headset presses and everybody just says 'eh, just use a bolt and a stack of washers'

but but but.... :P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...pss2djuue3.jpg

HardyWeinberg 04-24-17 10:19 AM


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 19521752)
Everybody else, feel free to tell me how wonderful your life is because you check the weather or get an automated forecast in your email every single damn day.

Don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, or whether it is going to rain. It is.

RubeRad 04-24-17 12:09 PM


Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg (Post 19534035)
Don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, or whether it is going to rain. It is.

In Puget Sound, I'm sure. Not so much in San Diego.

autonomy 04-25-17 02:11 PM

This thread delivers... problem is, people don't understand that it's 65 and sunny in San Diego every single day, except for when it rains and it's 50 - of which there are probably 5 the whole year.

I'm jealous. Here in New England I have to check the forecast several times a day and it's annoying. Just last weekend we had a forecast for low-60s and overcast and it ended up being high 40s and drizzle all day. Ugh.

Also jealous of the roads out west. That is all.

RubeRad 04-25-17 03:22 PM

Thanks autonomy, I appreciate your jealousy. It helps me cope with the cost of living.

PatrickGSR94 04-26-17 09:32 AM


Originally Posted by autonomy (Post 19537749)
I'm jealous. Here in New England I have to check the forecast several times a day and it's annoying. Just last weekend we had a forecast for low-60s and overcast and it ended up being high 40s and drizzle all day. Ugh.

I hate, no, DESPISE days like that. Temperature never gets as warm as predicted, and that damn fine misting rain that soaks everything to the core and seems like it just won't quit! And often it doesn't even show up on the radar so can't tell when it's going to end.

SloButWide 04-28-17 01:05 PM


Originally Posted by JReade (Post 19521919)
IFTTT is an app or service that lets you configure stuff, like "If I get an email from sender x, turn my lights on at home". I looked on the site, there are some that are pre-filled like "alert me if there is a high pollen count" and "get an email if there is snow expected tomorrow" so I imagine there is an option for "email me if there is rain past x % chance" or however you want to configure it.

Edit- yep there is.

You mentioned you're getting an email, but didnt' like giving access to your email service.

FWIW, I use the recipe "If tomorrow’s forecast calls for rain, then send me an SMS at <...>". It does not require access to my email, but I had to register my phone number. It's in the Weather Underground collection.

RubeRad 04-28-17 01:21 PM

Yeah, that sounds nicer in the sense of not having to give so much gmail access, but I'm not a phone guy. I have a sub-$5 Tracfone clamshell from Walmart, it sits in my kittier, turned off, for up to weeks at a time.

zze86 05-02-17 11:50 PM

This thread is weirdly satisfying.


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