T
hree years ago when on Day6 of my bike tour from Fayetteville, North Carolina to Key West, Florida [1,062 miles in 9 days] and experiencing some torrential thunderstorms associate with Tropical Storm Alberto, I wished for weather-alert that might allow for better decision making when on the road. This is critical when storms may develop hours after one last reviewed weather forecast in the area from which they departed.
Had my biking partner and I known the storm track earlier on Day5, we might have ridden longer to get further south and may have missed what we experienced on Days5-7. The horrors of a storm have been made even more vivid by Mr. Giraldo recounting his recent 07/09 experience as he triked to Haswell, Colorado from Pueblo [read his 07/25 blog letter].
So, what is the killer app, I’ve wanted. I wanted a device that knows where I am and gives me weather alerts for my location. Short of my desired killer app, I’ve used satellite radio and a NOAA Weather Radio. The Weather Channel on satellite radio gives me general weather, but not keyed to my location. The NOAA Weather Radio requires me to key in coding for the counties I’ll ride through. This is not a good mobile solution—biking or otherwise.
This article is about the best I am aware of at this point for the "gadgets" I have. Enter the iPhone 3GS and apps I have been evaluating for integration with my cycling. Apple’s iTunes Store has several weather alert applications. The weather alert app that caught my fancy uses the iPhone’s My location feature to know were you are and to alert you accordingly. Paul Brill, the creator of the NOAA National Weather Service iPhone Application [see details there], says the app will automatically geolocate one’s current forecast/event area. Well, that’s what I want.
There is a problem/short coming because Apple does not currently allow 3rd party apps to run in the background. This means the application must "be running" for the user to receive the alert. I corresponded with Paul today. He tells me that Push Technology will get weather alerts to the user. He cannot say how soon the feature will be available. It is not in the upcoming version 2.0 release of his NOAA NWS iPhone App.
As I said, my killer app [almost]. But, I’m a lot closer than I was and feeling good about it.
Hi,
I apologize up front for posting this in your blog but I couldn’t find the email address that I had for you. I wanted to encourage you to check out my post today for an update on my brother’s biking adventures but also to say be sure to read the section at the bottom to see what has to be one of the most bizarre and scary “road rage” incidents of this summer/year/decade. It happened in Asheville, NC just the other day.
- Zeke
Well, you have my email address now. I am happy the David is finding the cycle he needs for his body and the terrain he wants to ride. I know the RANS Crank Forward is a viable means of transportation base upon my experience with my RANS Citi. The best to him.
I learned of the sad Asheville shooting in this BROL thread. The tread was locked because of some of the responses. I wonder why the firefighter took such violent action, likely harming the father by gun versus a vehicle he was concerned about. Riding is a dangerous, but enjoyable, activity. I don’t mean dangerous all the time, but unknown risk exist. Some cyclist are maliciously run over because a driver thinks the cyclist does not belong on the roadway with automobiles. Again, sad, sad, sad.
Thanks for the information and the opportunity to read the article on David.
Take care…
Jim