Welcome

Hi everbody
been lurking around the forum quite a while now since rekindling my love of cycling as a teenager 40 odd years ago riding then if I remember correctly a Holdsworth fixed wheel. I've been a chauffuer in central London for some 30+ years often with my faithful Brompton in the boot. Just bought two bikes with bigger wheels best not mention them here I might get incoming flak.

Really have enjoyed trawling through the many posts admiring some fine machinery, picking up useful info and above all enjoying the wit and banter that seems unique to this forum. I do have a couple of noob type quetions which may get a straight reply but I'm braced for anything else.
Here goes, what are the little wrap over straps/tubes I see on a top tube? and what's the deal about sticking cards in the spokes of some bikes?

Tin hat firmly on, fire away.

Hello and welcome, the wrap over the top tube is a hang over from BMXing which protected your knackers if you slipped off the seat , now its either to hide what your bike is, protect your knackers for tricks or more realistically for looks. Cards in spokes are from rides usually, to show you've done something I guess and to recognise people who have done the same. Enjoy the forum.