Bianchigirll 

I suddenly have this strange idea that I want a safety flag on one of my bikes. You know those goofy looking tall orange pennant flags? Well they all seem to be made to bolt on with the hub meaning you need a bolt on wheel or have to fiddle with it and the QR. The bike in question doesn't have a rack. I wouldn't be opposed to it but like it how it is currently set up.

So do any of you have one? How did you do it? Anyone ever use this Catrike thing?



https://www.electricspokes.com/produ...xoCkSgQAvD_BwE

Road Fan

I don't think we still have a Fred forum around here!

All kidding aside, did you look at the children's' bike accessories at some LBSs? Or maybe Walmart? Like reflector sets, I'd think they are on the shelf at neighborhood bike shops that cater to family riding.

As far as mounting to a frame without provisions, I'd think in terms of fabricating a mounting plate that can mount "softly" around the seatstay at two points and the chainstay at one point, and which clamps to the whippy flagpole at two points. Made perhaps of 1/8" plywood or .030 aluminum K&S hobby shop material. Braze-ons of course are a possibility .... Oh, sorry, I'm supposed to be serious!

Seriously, BG, I think I'd build a mounting plate and plan for tie-wrap attachments to the frame and possibly to the flagpole as well. It's probably best to arrange some kind of release/reattach provision for the stick.

Steamer

https://t-cycle.com/collections/all-purple-sky-products/products/tcycle-flag-mount

Bianchigirll 

This is interesting I like it better than that thing that just screws into a rack eyelet.
https://t-cycle.com/collections/all-...cle-flag-mount

jonwvara 

The bike touring company I used to work for zip-tied an eight-inch piece of aluminum tubing--maybe 1/4" ID--to the stays of the rear rack (they used Pletscher racks, although the brand shouldn't matter) and inserted the "flagpole" into the tubing. The tubing was flattened at the bottom to keep the flagpole from falling through., ad fastened to one of the dropout eyelets with a screw.. Quick, cheap, and easy to install.

Of course, that won't work without a rack

The Golden Boy 

Somebody here had a 1970s flag- but it flipped out to the side like a school bus stop sign.

madpogue 

1974 called. It wants its idea back.

Those things just got in the way, made it harder to mount / dismount, and probably poked more than one eye out. The orange was not the hi-viz orange you see today, and I'll bet you'd be hard-pressed to find one with true safety orange, since I doubt they've been updated as a product. I also reckon they're not on the "mental radar" of today's car drivers, as they were 40+ years ago. You mentioned a Catrike mount; what I _have_ seen in more recent years is a similar fiberglass or flexible pole, albeit shorter, with an LED on top. Just saw someone with one of those on a tadpole yesterday. More attention-getting than a flag, will mentally register better with today's drivers than a flag, and in the case of a tadpole, doesn't interfere with mounting/dismounting.

P!N20

Ha ha. Aren't they a standard bit of kit for recumbent riders though?

JaccoW

Lots of colors available today:

(Traumvelo.de)

They suggest different sizes for different speeds.

• Size L: 15-20 km/h
• Size M: 20-25 km/h
• Size S: 25-30 km/h

They even make a flagpole light for dynohub/electric bikes using a B+M light.

One of the connection methods is this thing.

Steamer

The Catrike mount doesn't work on every bike. If the eyelet isn't in the right place relative to the axle, the flag ends up too upright or too laid back.

I have one. I tried using it on my ICE trike, but it wasn't ideal. Sitting in a parts bin now.

gugie 

Just wear something bright. If someone can't see you in one of those nuclear yellow jackets, a small flag won't make a difference. If it's warm out, a vest. If it's hot, a nuclear yellow jersey.

If you're anxious about being seen.

Recumbents use them since they're low to the ground, below where motorists eye scan.

Jeff Wills

Terracycle makes all sorts of widgetry for the recumbent market. I've known them for 20+ years- they are quality people.

Although I agree with Gugie- if you want to be seen, wear big blocks of bright colors.

SurferRosa

Rainbow Wig $4.59 No Special Mounts Needed

jamesj

I use this, It's fun.


https://www.safetypizza.com

madpogue 

Includes free WIN button.

Chr0m0ly 

2toneblue

This brought back a childhood memory, I had one of those flags. Think the end was a flat metal plate with a hole in it to mount to the rear axle. My Dad never would install it for me and it sat in a corner of the house for probably 20 years, have no idea where it ended up.

Last ride 76 

+1 Drivers will think you're deranged and stay farther away. Also may function as a disguise thus reducing embarrassment (if that's an issue) though it will require changing in a phone booth... um, I think there's a slight problem here.

I always liked the theory behind the sideways flags that many rental bikes used to have on Cape Cod, since some drivers think that 8 inches is plenty of leeway for cyclists. The problem is that some of those same motorists hate being told what to do, and took them as a personal challenge.

I use those little LED bullets set to flash, and now leave the red rear one on all the time. As a motorist they catch my eye pretty well, and I hope they will do the same when I'm the one on the bike.

Vintage_Cyclist

I think there's a rule that if you use one of those flags, you have to pair it with one of those old, white, turtle-shell-shaped Bell helmets.

philbob57

For all their inconveniences, I had great results from those horizontal flags. Motorists gave me plenty of room over a few 1000 miles on suburban streets. I found one a few years ago, but the mount was flimsy and the flag itself was not secured to the mast(?), so it fell off on my 3rd ride. I think it's now sold as the 'M-Wave.'

You might be interested in this: https://takeyourlane.com. It looks excessive to me, though.

Bianchigirll 

I was wondering about that. It also seems it might be hard to use with fenders and or rack.

I've looked at several of those fancy 'hi vis' jerseys but the sizing uh um leaves something to be desired.

Now I am hungry for pizza

Oh sort of like my hopes and dreams..............

I don;'t know if I like those sideways flags.
--------------------------------------------------------------

I was hoping to be able ride a bit further afield this year and with little to no shoulder I was hoping the taller flag might make me more visible at a distance on the undulating back roads.

philbob57

Can't say I liked the flag. I definitely did like the way drivers protected their precious cars from touching it. I think riding mainly on Chicago's North shore may have something to do with the fact that no one aimed at it.

stardognine

Just get one of those neon safety vests, like the highway workers use. XXL probably covers you good, even with a few layers, and they're very breathable. 🙂
Concerning small or non-existent berms, just practice riding on the white line itself, that marks the berm. After awhile, anything to the right of it looks huge. 😁
I've ridden on a lot of narrow roads, some with crumbling berms, and some with heavy truck traffic, and as long as you stay on (or to the right of) the white line, you "should" be pretty safe. But being seen is still VERY important, obviously. 😉

kylecycler

Tell me this isn't cool...



I mean, where were you (or where was I) then?!?!?!

Chr0m0ly 

That picture is one of my absolutely favorite depictions of my cycling ideal. Love the cycling specific clothing of runners and shlumpy socks, plaid flannel shirt... National Geographic, right?