This is how you can attach flags to your bicycle

You should not have any problem mounting a flag to your handlebar if you get yourself an umbrella holder for bicycle.

You can check out how it can be mounted on a bicycle or wheelchair by watching this video.

There are also many types of handlebar capacity organisers that you can make use of to attach your flag if you run out of space there.

You will have to figure out how you can attached your flag to the organiser based on the kind of pole it is attahced to.

There are also bicycle light holder that you can use for mouting your flag. This model has a quick release mechanisam which makes it easy for you to consider installing on other locations like the seatpost or top tube. Just make sure that the holder you buy can be rotated in the correct position for the flag to be raised up.

These are other holders for bicycle light that you can consider.

You can wrap the pole with paper or cut strips of punctured tubes if the gap is too large for the pole of your flag.

Just make sure that you attached the flag securely to your bicycle so that it will not fall out of the holder and accidentally hurt someone close by.

How do you store bikes at home without staining the floor or wall?

The best way to prevent the tyres of your bicycles from staining the floor or the wall of your house is to make sure that they are not stored with the wheels on the floor or lying against the wall.  This was how our bicycles were displayed when we first started the business at another location.

The red and yellow sheets on the walls are not for decoration only. They are light weight polycarbonate sheets commonly used for fabricating awnings. We installed each sheet just below the hook. Once the bicycles are hooked up, their tyres lie on these sheets and prevent them from staining the wall.

This was the type of rack we used to hang our bicycles up against the wall.

Do not made the mistake we did by installing the rack too high up the wall. If you do that, you will need to climb up on a stool in order to bring your bike down safely. It is dangerous and you will likely get a backache from handling the weight of the bicycle from a height.

You should hang your bicycles up on the lower hooks by their front wheels. Bicycles hung higher up should be hooked by their rear wheels. You want your bicycles on the lower row to be hooked high enough so that their wheels do not touch the ground. In that way your wheels will not be stained by water and dirt when you are cleaning your floor.

You can also buy floor to ceiling poles to hang your bicycles.

These are the other type of hangers you can consider buying if you like your bicycles hung up for display. They are perfect to be installed on the wall of your car porch as once your bicycle is hooked up, it lies flatter against the wall compared to the single hook wall rack.

There are also ceiling hooks for storing bicycle.

The best location to install it is above the low shoes cabinet near the entrance. This is how my customer stored his bicycle.

You can also use a tower rack for storing two bicycles. Try to avoid placing the hook lower down the pole if you do not want the wheel to be sitting on the floor.

If you use this L shape stand and you do not want the wheel to touch the floor, you can place it on top of a low cabinet or platform.

How do we protect bicycle tyres from cracking?

Avoid doing things to your tyres that will age and dry them out and cause them to crack.

You should:

1) keep bicycle indoor to avoid exposure to the sun's heat or rain.

2) use the proper air pressure in your tyres to prevent overstretching them out.

3) not wash your tyres excessively with chemical cleaners that will remove waxes and other chemical compound the manufacturer used to protect the surface. If you like your tyres looking clean and new, shop around for polish or wax for tyres that will protect or prevent dirt and mud from sticking to them easily.

4) ride on your bicycle regularly so that the tyres are stretched to maintain their flexibility.

5) inflate the tyres at least every 2 weeks even if you are not cycling your bicycle.

6) remove the wheels from your bicycle and hang them up if you do not plan to cycle for a long period of time. This is to prevent weight of your bicycle from sitting on the tyres.

You can also find other ways to store your bicycle. My customer bought this ceiling hooks from our bike shop to hang his bicycle up in his parent’s home. He rides it only when he is free during the weekends.

You can also check out bike shops to learn how they hang their bicycles for display. This was how we displayed our bicycles at our former bicycle shop.

These are some of the storage racks for hanging bicycles up, that you should be able to find in the market.This rack is suitable for those with more than two bicycles to store, as additional holders can be purchased separately.

This rack is suitable for those with more than two bicycles to store, as additional holders can be purchased separately.

If you have to keep it outdoor, make sure that it is properly covered to protect it from the exposure of rain and sun.

You can also find such covers in shops selling motorbikes but I noticed that there are usually priced higher there than at a bike shop.

When should you apply lubricant on your bicycle?

The best time to lubricate the moving parts of your bicycle, which includes your chain, is right after you clean it, especially, after cycling in wet or dusty condition.

According to instruction manual from Cylion the manufacturer for “Multifunction Chain Cleaner” and chain cleaning agents, it is recommended that you clean your bicycle after every 100km of riding.

However, if you look at your bike manual, you will see that there is a schedule for you to clean and lubricate the moving parts on your bicycle with grease, lubricant and chain lube.

So, even if you have not cycled for a while, you should try to follow the schedule to prevent rust and corrosion.

Grime and grit on moving parts will cause friction. You will know that you have to lubricate them when you feel that your ride is less “smooth” than usual. So, it is alright to lubricate them more often then scheduled. Use wet lube if you tend to ride in wet and dusty condition.

This schedule is a page from the “Bicycle Owner’s Manual” for Apollo bicycles.

If you do not have a manual, you can google “owner's manual for bicycle” to find one online.

The first thing you should do, if you have not lubricated your bicycle since day one you ride on it, is to wash the drive train. That will be the chain and the components that it runs through. Hose off any dirt sticking to the parts first then wipe it dry with a towel before you lubricate the chain and all the moving parts.

There are many type of cleaning set in the market. Here is one of the models from Super B.

Some cleaning agents and sets come with instruction on its packaging which will give you an idea how your drive train should be cleaned. I always keep a copy of such for product sold in my shop. This one is from Cylion.

If you do not want grit to stick to recently lubricated bike, it is best not to over lubricate parts to prevent dirt build up. For best results, you can lubricate your chain 24 hours ahead of your ride to allow liquid carrier of the lube or lubricant to evaporate. Before you ride, wipe off any access that you see. That way your drivetrain will stay cleaner after each ride.

Be careful when spraying lubricants to avoid getting any on your brake disc rotor or pads. You will know that it has been contaminated if you can hear a squealing sound when you brake. You can clean the rotor with a degreaser or rubbing alcohol to stop the annoying sound. As a last resort, you can use soap and water.