# 53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868 "2017-07-09T19:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 103
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2041 "2017-12-03T01:28:35Z")
Is the rule exclusive to going out for ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2042 "2017-12-03T01:35:13Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Is the rule exclusive to going out for ice cream? **Yes.** ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2043 "2017-12-03T01:40:55Z")
Are we playing yes / no questions only? Does “going out for ice cream” refer to getting an individual serving from an ice cream shop (as opposed to buying ice-cream to take home, from any kind of store)? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2044 "2017-12-03T01:46:42Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Are we playing yes / no questions only? **Yes. Per the OP, I’ll let you know if the answer is “probably” or “I don’t know”.** > [@](#): > > Does “going out for ice cream” refer to getting an individual serving from an ice cream shop (as opposed to buying ice-cream to take home, from any kind of store)? **Yes.** ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2045 "2017-12-03T02:32:16Z")
Does the answer have to do with **when** you go for ice cream? (I.e. only after work, and you don’t wear sneakers to work?) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2046 "2017-12-03T03:16:40Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **Why do I have a rule that I can’t wear sneakers when I go out for ice cream?** Are sneakers shoes? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2047 "2017-12-03T03:28:32Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Does the answer have to do with **when** you go for ice cream? (I.e. only after work, and you don’t wear sneakers to work?) **No.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2048 "2017-12-03T03:29:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Are sneakers shoes? **Yes.** ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2049 "2017-12-03T03:35:24Z")
Ah … Is the question why you have a rule? Or why you don’t wear sneakers? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2050 "2017-12-03T03:48:41Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Ah … > > Is the question why you have a rule? > > Or why you don’t wear sneakers? **I’d say why I don’t wear sneakers. The rule exists to remind me not to wear sneakers when I go out for ice cream.** ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2051 "2017-12-03T04:44:02Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **I’d say why I don’t wear sneakers. …** Okay, it’s not because you’re a loon, who just likes unnecessary rules. Does it have to do with **where** you go for ice-cream? (does it apply whether you go to Baskin Robbins or The Mosquito?) ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2052 "2017-12-03T05:19:48Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Okay, it’s not because you’re a loon, who just likes unnecessary rules. > > Does it have to do with **where** you go for ice-cream? (does it apply whether you go to Baskin Robbins or The Mosquito?) **Yes. It only applies to certain ice cream shops.** ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2053 "2017-12-03T05:26:31Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **Yes. It only applies to certain ice cream shops.** Does it apply to a chain of ice cream shops? (Again, Baskin Robbins, as opposed to The Mosquito) Do(es) the shop(s) sell primarily ice-cream or ice-cream type desserts? (As opposed to a Friendly’s, that serves other things) ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2054 "2017-12-03T05:32:05Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Does it apply to a chain of ice cream shops? (Again, Baskin Robbins, as opposed to The Mosquito) \*\* No. Although it might possibly apply to a particular shop that is a member of a chain.\*\* > [@](#): > > Do(es) the shop(s) sell primarily ice-cream or ice-cream type desserts? (As opposed to a Friendly’s, that serves other things) **In my experience, it’s been ice cream only shops, but it could apply to other shops as well.** ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2055 "2017-12-03T06:09:48Z")
Are your sneakers fabric? Are your sneakers a non-woven material? (Leather, ‘manufactured leather’, some synthetic) Does it matter? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2056 "2017-12-03T06:17:34Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Are your sneakers fabric? > > Are your sneakers a non-woven material? (Leather, ‘manufactured leather’, some synthetic) > > Does it matter? **I have several pairs of sneakers made of different materials or combinations of materials, but it’s not relevant to the puzzle.** ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2057 "2017-12-03T07:09:54Z")
Would the same rule apply if you were, for example, picking up dyr-cleaning from a store next to the one that serves ice-cream and weren’t buying ice-cream at all? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2058 "2017-12-03T07:11:49Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > Would the same rule apply if you were, for example, picking up dyr-cleaning from a store next to the one that serves ice-cream and weren’t buying ice-cream at all? **No.** ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2059 "2017-12-03T16:25:24Z")
Does it have to do with where you eat the ice cream that you get from these certain shops? Does it have to do with what kind of ice cream you get from these certain shops? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2060 "2017-12-03T17:04:46Z")
Does it involve the type of shoes you wear when you don’t wear sneakers? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=102) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=104)