I have used the mounts that bolt onto the hub that come with the cheap two piece flags. Lost that and made a pvc sheath that I zip tied to the rack.

Dont use on for recreational riding or around town, but generally like using a flag when touring despite getting a little flack for it from those who say that if they are not going to see you, then they wont see you with a flag either. I have had a six or seven random people tell me that they saw my flag over the top of a hill, moving over a field of wheat or corn, and even just on long flat stretches long before seeing me or my flashers.

I throw my leg over the rear, so do hit the pole, its annoying, but eventually get mounting down without hitting it, unless really tired. Just remember to bend the knee more.

have lost one flag to low trees once, just lifted it out of the socket. Another time, getting into an elevator with the bike, I had to pull it out to clear the doors, and when it popped out hard the top impaled the ceiling of the lobby Since then I remember to pull it out before entering any building.

I like a two part pole, it stores better, and I take it off when on rail trails or paths, and stuff them under a pannier lid or something. There tend to be more low trees on paths that can catch a flag.

Once I rode to visit a freind a couple hundred miles away. He was trying to talk me in on the phone, as I was super lost trying to find his place in town. I was going back and forth on a road trying to figure out which of the ten huge churches was the one to turn at, when he called me to say that I was only a quarter mile away. He could see my dorky flag moving back and forth on the other side of a ridge, and was able to talk me through the route by watching the orange flag from his porch!