I prefer the bike to be some distance from the background. Avoid a background the same shade or colour as your bike or a fussy detailled background; very light or dark backgrounds can skew the exposure reading.
You can prop a bike up by a pedal on a brick/log/curb.
3/4 views from the front seem to work best.
Make sure you show the details that matter to you, either by positioning components, altering your point of view or getting closer.
Use a moderate telephoto zoom and fill the frame with your image. Look at the image in the viewfinder, scan around the edges and move your point of view to get the best composition.
Most digicams work well enough to get a decent picture. You can post some of your bad pics for critical advice.