I've downloaded and installed the trial version of Cyclistats from Shasta Software, and I noted a weather function on the install. And that is the focus of my questions.

1. Is anyone else using the weather check in Cyclistats?

2. If you are, did you note an increase in junk mail?

Last year, one of my kids downloaded a thing called WeatherBug (AOL critter, I think) onto the computer they use, and it was soon locked up with spyware, malware, and browser hijackers. It took me a week of cleaning and re-cleaning to get their desktop working properly again.

On my computer, I run all the usual security software and use a Hotmail address to keep the junk at a distance, but I am curious about the potential issues with their weather function. It would be nice to have it on the desktop, but not at the risk of being "invaded."

Finally, I'll come back to questions about the Shasta training software before I finish the 30 day free trial.

Thanks in advance,
Rick

I don't use it regularly, but I have used it. It only uses zip code (under view/options) to identify where you want the weather from, not an e-mail address, so it won't cause you spam issues.

And weather bug is Hellspawn.

Always read the privacy statments on the web site. Some very popular sites will tell you that they'll be passing on your email addy as part of their promotions. I always use a special addy ie junk@... when it's a required field.

Thanks for the feedback. Based on my limited fiddling with it thus far, I really like the cycling software. Now I'm kind of wondering if they offer anything for motorcyclists? (My other vice).

Anyway, I had already installed the Cyclistats software for the trial before I remembered the Weatherbug fiasco, so I thought I would check the local brain trust!

I've been using Cyclistats for almost a year now, and have never had a problem, Spam or otherwise.

The only thing the Weather button does for me is open a web browser window that goes to my local weather page. I don't enter any personal info.

I like the program a lot, and find it very useful. Don't know that they offer anything by motorcyclists, but SSP will probably find this thread eventually and let ya know. He's a forum regular.

Yeah! Sometime after I posted, I was reading another thread and realized the developer is a regular.

Hey, I'm just glad to help him with a "fly on the wall" experience ... !!!

Didn't know that. Cool.

I love the software. I'm updating to the newest version now.

I use Forcastfox. Nice and simple for weather if you use firefox or mozilla. It gets its info from weather.com. I also have a little linux taskbar applet that gets weather info from airport weather stations.

I use the weather function virtually every morning before my club ride - I have not noticed any increase in junk mail. Cyclistats is an amazing program, and I don't know how I ever lived without it.

Thanks all for the comments re: CycliStats...as the developer, that's music to my ears.

With respect to the weather function - it should definitely not result in increased spam. All it does it open a web page using your zip code as one of the parameters. No email address or other identifying information is passed to the weather website.

If you don't care for the default website (Weather Underground - www.wunderground.com), you can override it with any website of your choosing (e.g., weather.com, or the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit page ).

Does the Sports Illustrated swimsuit page have any weather features?

Forgot about that. I changed the website to Accuweather right after I installed it, and forgot that it wasn't the default page.

My favorite part of the software - the graphs. It's a little extra motivation to actually see the monthly mileage going up, and then to see the weight going down.

Yeah, you can tell when it's cold.

FWIW, CycliStats got a nice little write-up on the New Arrivals page on cyclingnews.com (it's at the bottom of the page).

It's also a good way to tell if you still have a pulse.

It's a great program. And if you want something like weatherbug but without the ads, ad spam problems, get weather watcher.....by singer's creations....I'm sure if you put it into google you will find it...