Spirited Bike Spinner

This Fourth of July craft is bursting with patriotic pizzazz!

by Amy Kaldor-Bull

See larger photo

Total Time Needed:: 1-2 Hours

Old Glory won't be the only thing blowing in the breeze this Fourth. Made from a strategically snipped and bent plastic bottle wrapped in tape, this colorful bike accessory twirls in the air as your kids pedal.

Materials

1 roll each of red, white, and blue electrical tape
Clean 1-liter plastic bottle
1-inch section of a paper towel tube, cut open

3/4-inch-wide dowel, cut to 6 inches long
Plastic milk cap in red, white, or blue
Thumbtack or pushpin

Instructions

Wrap the electrical tape around the bottle, alternating colors. Cut about 2 inches off the bottom of the bottle.
Cut the bottle vertically, from the bottom to the neck, into five evenly spaced sections. Round any sharp edges and bend out the sections as shown at left.
Wrap the strip of cardboard tubing around the dowel, about 1-1/2 inches from one end, and secure it with electrical tape. Place the dowel on the handlebars, with 4 inches overhanging the front and clearing any brake cables, then attach it with electrical tape. Slip the bottle's neck over the dowel.
Cover the end of the dowel with the milk cap and secure it with the thumbtack. Check that the arms spin freely and don't interfere with the operation of the bike.