Tricking out a bike with flag-inspired frills is a long-standing Fourth of July tradition. Follow this parade, and gear up to cruise with star-spangled pride.

No MP3 file could ever capture it: the simple, joyful flick-flick-flick of a playing card snapping against bike spokes. If childhood summer had a soundtrack, this noise would surely be on it. What's so thrilling is that this sounds just the same as it did in your childhood. And your parents', and their parents'. Indeed, in Telluride, Colorado, they've been parading down Main Street on the Fourth of July for more than 130 years, decorating bikes and reveling in the red, white, and blue. Steal some inspiration from them, adorn your old two-wheeler, and turn up the volume on that happy childhood sound.

Oh, say, can you see -- all the possibilities? Handlebars festooned with fringe and wheels dressed up with stars and stripes are some of the ways a bicycle can get ready for a spin on the Fourth. Neighbors deck out their rides for Telluride's annual parade, the quintessential small-town Independence Day march.

To make paper frills bring is-boom-bah spirit to a bike's handlebars, we used fringe drape and tissue festooning.

Stars make brilliant fixtures for baskets and wheels. For wheels, cut a circle in the center of a star cutout, cut a slit to one edge, and slide onto hub.

Fold and tape these patriotic clip-art covers around the spokes of your bicycle to create a whir of stars or bars when the wheels go round.

The Stars and Stripes make high-flying flourishes for a basket with bunting.

These festive medallion designs make great crests and attach easily to handlebars with ribbon or tape.

Print the Large Medallions Clip Art
Print the Bike Shield Medallions Clip Art

It's easily a banner day with these flags. We like to tape them to special flag holders for bikes.

Print the Pennants Clip Art

Weave crepe paper streamers or fringed garlands between spokes for a colorful spin.

Print the Spoke Cover Clip Art

Dress up a wagon with our starry labels. Print designs onto adhesive or plain paper and adhere or tape them to wagons.

Print the "Having a Grand Old Time" Label Clip Art

Organize supplies in bins or buckets, and set them out for the whole gang to use. Smaller containers can be labeled as individual favors. 

Print these labels onto adhesive or plain paper and adhere the fill in-the-blank designs to buckets and the festive messages to bottles of bubble favors. 

Print the Label Clip Art
Print Bottles of Bubbles Label Clip Art

Wrap your bike's handlebars in streamers or fringed flag garlands to show your colors.

Fasten playing cards to bike spokes with clothespins and make a ruckus!

A parade down Main Street --  it doesn't get more American than that. Vintage trucks, flag-waving locals, riders on horseback, and patriotic pups are all part of the spectacle.

Make your patriotic pooch stand out in the crowd with a red, white, and blue bow tie.

As seen in the July 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine. Photography and Video 2011 Ken Kochey. All rights reserved. All other content 2011 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.