Flags and poles: looking for recommendations

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   Hi all!

In preparation for the upcoming Extinction Rebellion protests I am thinking of equipping my Quest with a nice flag. Do you have any recommendations about what to use as a flag pole and flag?

For a protest it should not be hard to put something together with whatever long pole I can get hold of and any random piece of fabric, but it would be ideal if the set up can be reused to make the velomobile more visible in other contexts, so the pole should ideally withstand relatively high speeds and winds, be lightweight, the flag should be visible but not add much drag or exposure to side winds, and so on.

Also I am thinking about adding a bright LED at the top, or potentially a led strip like the ones I have added at the front…

I have seen https://t-cycle.com/collections/all-purple-sky-products/ which look great but I am not keen to order from the US (and it's a bit expensive too!)

Antonin

Edited by antonin_d - 10 September 2019 at 5:13pm

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antonin_d Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 10 April 2017 Status: Offline Points: 38	Post Options Post Reply Quote antonin_d Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Flags and poles: looking for recommendations Posted: 10 September 2019 at 5:11pm
	Hi all! In preparation for the upcoming Extinction Rebellion protests I am thinking of equipping my Quest with a nice flag. Do you have any recommendations about what to use as a flag pole and flag? For a protest it should not be hard to put something together with whatever long pole I can get hold of and any random piece of fabric, but it would be ideal if the set up can be reused to make the velomobile more visible in other contexts, so the pole should ideally withstand relatively high speeds and winds, be lightweight, the flag should be visible but not add much drag or exposure to side winds, and so on. Also I am thinking about adding a bright LED at the top, or potentially a led strip like the ones I have added at the front… I have seen https://t-cycle.com/collections/all-purple-sky-products/ which look great but I am not keen to order from the US (and it's a bit expensive too!) Antonin Edited by antonin_d - 10 September 2019 at 5:13pm

Yanto Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 11 July 2005 Status: Offline Points: 1263	Post Options Post Reply Quote Yanto Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 September 2019 at 5:37pm
	What about contacting ICE Trikes, they have poles and flags for their trikes. I can't think of any UK velomobile riders who use flags.

Kim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 13 April 2018 Location: Middle Earth Status: Offline Points: 443	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 September 2019 at 6:45pm
	I don't use a flag myself, but the fibreglass poles supplied by ICE certainly seem up to the job. You could probably obtain something similar from a supplier of kite parts.

farwer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 17 April 2015 Location: Sheffield Status: Offline Points: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote farwer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 September 2019 at 8:30pm
	I use a standard kids bike safety flag: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fp%2F6004333008 The orange one is very visible and not too big. I attach it just with cable ties. The connectors between the pole segments have to be not too weak. With a different flag a connector snapped and I lost the light which was attached to the pole. A light like the Cateye RapidX2 fits perfectly.

Andy G Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 22 June 2019 Location: Kidderminster Status: Offline Points: 22	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andy G Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 September 2019 at 11:37am
	I would be inclined to visit your local fishing tackle shop. Carbon fibre, and glass fibre rods is what they do. They usually sell “blanks”, for people who want to make their own rods. A good chance of picking up a “second”, or damaged rod for next to nothing. And fishing tackle, by it’s very nature, is incredibly light. It would deffo be my first port of call.
	These hills are steeper than they look.

mark aldridge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 29 October 2015 Location: surrey Status: Offline Points: 71	Post Options Post Reply Quote mark aldridge Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 26 September 2019 at 1:42pm
	Just head for your local kite shop. They tend to have poles in all diameters, weights and materials and are a fount of knowledge regarding fabrics and designs. I use Kite's Up in Cliddesden just south of Basingstoke. Also it is worth trying any shop that does those self-standing sail style advertising banners that you see all over the place. Good luck.

runcyclexcski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 23 May 2017 Location: east midlands Status: Offline Points: 63	Post Options Post Reply Quote runcyclexcski Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 July 2020 at 2:00am
	Nordic ski poles work for this. You can even carbon ones them in 3-pieces now for real cheap.

Shreds Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 17 July 2020 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shreds Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 July 2020 at 3:55pm
	Larger B&Qs Warehouses usually have a section selling brass, steel, aluminium and fibreglass rod as well as tube and other cross sections. The fibreglass one strikes me as similar to the 5.85mm rod used for the ICE flag pole. ICE have a specific mount for the pole, as well as it dividing into three sections. In respect of the mount and the joints, you might need to be a bit inventive, but easily done with some aluminium hollow tube of 6mm internal diameter (same source?) crimped at the base and some plastic screw on compression fittings. All done very cheaply. Flag wise may depend on your sewing skills, but again just note how the ICE flag is designed not to catch too much wind and drag. Of course buying direct from ICE is the other option. Edited by Shreds - 25 July 2020 at 4:03pm