Okay, been struggling with this for years. I fly two small flags on my bike, a USA flag and a Texas Flag. When they get old, faded, or frayed I replace them. Most of the time I get a new flag, it comes with a little rubber ring. For my flag setup, I don't think it applies, but.... thought I'd stop in and ask the experts. The ring is too loose (you can tell by the angle) to have any grip. If I were to put it over the flag, it would just fold the flag and that would look horrible. I can get it in the sleeve, but it doesn't really help.

At some point in the past, I received flags with the clips you see. (Maybe they came with the flagpole, can't remember now.) They work pretty well, though I do have to slide both clips up a bit, usually, after some long rides. But... does the rubber ring just not apply to me? Appreciate any insight.

Include pic with parts and the other pic (on my bike) just for size info.

Clips (that work) and rubber rings (one received with this flag and one from previous flag) that confuse me!

Shown with rubber rings and clips

God bless America! (And Texas!) Flags show for rough size comprehension.

 

I actually considered, to keep the flag from sliding down at all, to put a little heat shrink on the pole where the sleeve covers it and at the two locations I put the clips... would have the flag be "grippier" there (instead of "slippier" there, heh), wouldn't be seen and would actually protect the pole long term. (Though it's stainless steel, so...) That doesn't explain the rubber rings, but...

 

If you are looking for an O-ring to fit around your mast tightly, take it into a hardware store that has those specialty bins. They’ll have one with all different sizes of O-rings. Pick one out of there that fits tightly.

 

Not really looking for one, just trying to understand their purpose.