CYCLING AND MOTORING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 10 December 1914, Page 7

CYCLING AND MOTORING.

EUIXED FOR WANT OF AIR. According: to tlie J>;mlop Rubber Com- ! pany, many thousands or". poun;!;i an. wasted annually by motorists of this country'through insufticieiit inflation ot eyre*. The results and louse:; from such neglect were bad enough when only the standard size covers wore used, but t'.itrouble lms been intcmiiiied since the introduction of what are known as "oversize" tyres, i.e., covers built to sl-..i;)>'.a:M size bead lines, but of larger diameter and of more air space, with a view to eliminating .vibration to the beneiit ol man and motor. The oversize lias proved very successful in the hands of careful motorists, who always sec that their tyres are kept in Hated to the proper degree of hardness, but unfortunately, there are thousands of motorists, who, as long as their tyres do not flatten out, i or roll too much, are satisfied to leave matters slide—especially if there is a hit of hard work, such as pumping, to be done. The effect of "not enough air'' on the standard sized cover is bad enough, but on the oversize type, it is considerably intensified, inasmuch as there is more roll and tlefing of the cover, the result being that owing to the extra friction set up, the canvas casing is put under an undue strain, and ""easing trouble is brought about. One. of the chief troubles that ensues is that the plies of canvas become loosened, greatly weakening the casing, and another is that the tendency for the wearing tread to work apart from the canvas! Keeping the tyres hard will prevent this, because.all covers are constructed to carry certain weights under specified inflation. Reduce the air pressure, and the cover is overloaded and overworked. The average motorists thinks that because he is using a slightly larger diameter tyre, he can use less air than linjhis old sized tyre. No'greater and! more' expensive mistake can be made. Sufficient air is required to keep the cover the correct shape under load. The same applies even to the latest special oversize 'Limousine Dunlops that have just been placed on the market. Although they are of extra heavy construction, with still walls, they must be properly inflated to ensure the best results. It's poor policy paying higher prices for larger tyres, and then ruining them by insufficient inflation. Is is cheaper anil more economical to fit small-sized covers which have to be kept pumped hard, to keep the rim from contact with the road, when under compression, and put pu with a bit more vibration. That's a more sensible .policy than running large tyres half inflated. It is a 'peculiar thing that the cost of motoring can be reduced to a very considerable extent by the use of plenty of air—which costs nothing—yet motorists are loth to use it, even when their own pockets are affected. The proper thing to do is to be guided by the air pressure tables, issued by tyre makers, and to frequently use a pressure gauge; for guessing pressure is unsatisfactory, and is only likely to lead to trouble. A war tax .equal to a penny a gallon, has been imposed on nil petrol " used in the United States. Considering that over a million cars are on use in the States, a huge sum will accrue from this tax, but considering tlie difference in the price of motor spirit in that country and this, the American tourist has little cause for complaint, for petrol only costs him about half of when it does ii) Australasia.

It is reported from Washington that during September, 200,000 barrels of gasolene and oil were exported from the United States to 'Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. As the average monthly exportation to these three countries is 40,000 barrels, it is suggested that part of tiic shipments are finding their way to Germany. The closing of the North Sea should put a stop to this game. At present petrol is almost worth its weight I in gold to Germany, and the stoppage | in imports of petrol will undoubtedly shorten the war. In this respect the allies are in a fortunate position, for they can all command ample supplies. A report from Belgian from the correspondent of an English motor trade journal tells of a most extraordinary use of a motor hood. It seems that a British patrol succeeded in capturing a German touring ear in .which two officers were seated. The motor had broken down and the officers were made prisoners of war. In glancing over the car, one o* the patrol noticed a wire conneeod to the frame of the raised top. Following the wire, he pulled from undei the seat a telephone receiver, and holding it to his ear, was dumbfounded when he could plainly hear a message, coming from nowhere in particular. The top skeleton formed the receiving wires of a wireless telephone stajtion, and the message came from the nearest headquarters of the army corps to which the officers belonged. Although we in this country are receiving but scanty official reports of the progress of the war, those that have come to hand bear testimony to the excellent work that is being done by the British volunteer motor cyclists in the arduous task of dcspanchc riding. So valuable have these young soldiers proved in maintaining constant communication along the huge front of the Allies in Northern France, that we learn that arrangements are in hand for largely increasing their numbers, a new corps of motor-cycle despatch riders, having a knowledge of the French language, being in course of formation under the control of J. W. Stock, a well-known English motorist. Although, as will readily be realised, many of the despatch riders have had no military experience, it is gratifying to read that those already at the front are not only carrying out their duties to the satisfaction of the military authorities, but that they are showing great dash and bravery while travelling through districts infested by the enemy. There is no doubt that for despatch riding work in the country where good roads abound, the motorcycle, is unapproachable, its great speed, coupled with .the fact that it needs only a single track, rendering it peculiarly well adapted for the purpose. Furthermore the riders of such machines nre generally of a class that enjoy a little sport, and we. are glad to find that their ardour appears to be in no way damped, even when sport is coupled with the possibility of an encounter with the armed outposts of the enemy.