When riding your bike in traffic, safety is of paramount importance. That means making yourself as visible as possible. One way to accomplish this is with a bicycle safety flag. A bright orange flag waving high in the air over your bike makes you much easier for motorists to see. While bicycle safety flags are available from bicycle shops and sporting good stores, you can also make a safety flag from a PVC fabric available at a fabric store and a fiberglass rod and metal mending plate from a home improvement center.
Step 1
Cut a 16-inch equilateral triangle from the orange PVC fabric. Place fabric adhesive along one edge. Fold that edge over one end of the fiberglass rod. Ensure that the adhesive spreads along the fold evenly. Allow the adhesive to dry.
Step 2
Place the 6-inch mending plate in a vise and drill a 1/4-inch hole through it with an electric drill. Make the hole between the first and second holes on the center line of the plate.
Step 3
Place the end of the fiberglass rod over the three existing holes in the mending plate and just above the newly-drilled hole.
Step 4
Insert a zip tie through the top hole and fasten it securely around the fiberglass rod. Insert a zip tie through each of the second and third holes and secure them to the rod in the same manner.
Step 5
Open the quick-release lever on the rear wheel. Unscrew the acorn nut on the quick-release skewer. Place the new 1/4-inch hole in the mending plate onto the skewer. Thread the acorn nut onto the skewer. Align the fiberglass rod straight up and close the quick-release lever to lock the wheel and the mending plate into place.
Things You'll Need
- Orange PVC fabric
- Fabric adhesive
- 8 foot x 1/8-inch fiberglass rod
- 1 6-inch metal mending plate
- Zip ties
- Electric drill with 1/4 inch bit
- Bench vise
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