# 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:** 105
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2081 "2017-12-04T16:08:55Z")
So we have to identify the quirk. Are there other places where you won’t wear sneakers? Is it just one particular pair of sneakers you won’t wear? Does color matter? Does type of ice cream matter? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2082 "2017-12-04T16:23:13Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > So we have to identify the quirk. **I wouldn’t call it a quirk. It’s a practical reason why I don’t wear sneakers when I go out for ice cream.** > [@](#): > > Are there other places where you won’t wear sneakers? **None that are relevant to this puzzle.** > [@](#): > > Is it just one particular pair of sneakers you won’t wear? **No.** > [@](#): > > Does color matter? **No.** > [@](#): > > Does type of ice cream matter? **No. I’m assuming that by “type of ice cream” you mean the particular flavor.** ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2083 "2017-12-04T17:01:24Z")
Is it just your preference to not eat ice cream unless it’s warm outside, therefore you only eat ice cream during ‘filp-flop’ weather? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2084 "2017-12-04T17:04:35Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Is it just your preference to not eat ice cream unless it’s warm outside, therefore you only eat ice cream during ‘filp-flop’ weather? **No. As far as I’m concerned, it is always ice cream season.** ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2085 "2017-12-04T17:12:38Z")
Do sneakers hurt your feet? ---
**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 4, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2086 "2017-12-04T17:30:18Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **Yes. It’s not actually for the steps; it’s because I don’t own a car.** Is this basically the answer? Seems like there’s not much else to figure out. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2087 "2017-12-04T17:39:39Z")
Is the ice cream eaten while walking? Is the ice cream eaten in the ice cream store? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2088 "2017-12-04T17:50:55Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Do sneakers hurt your feet? **No.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2089 "2017-12-04T17:53:20Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Is this basically the answer? Seems like there’s not much else to figure out. **We’ve established that I walk to the ice cream shop. The puzzle is why I do NOT want to wear sneakers when I walk there.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2090 "2017-12-04T17:54:33Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Is the ice cream eaten while walking? **Yes.** > [@](#): > > Is the ice cream eaten in the ice cream store? **No.** ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2091 "2017-12-04T18:34:56Z")
Is it because you don’t like to have ice cream drip on your sneakers? Do you prefer another type of shoe when getting ice cream? If so, do you wear galoshes? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2092 "2017-12-04T18:40:38Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is it because you don’t like to have ice cream drip on your sneakers? **No.** > [@](#): > > Do you prefer another type of shoe when getting ice cream? **Yes, in the sense that I prefer a non-sneaker type of shoe.** > [@](#): > > If so, do you wear galoshes? **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 4, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2093 "2017-12-04T19:16:11Z")
Do you need foot protection or specialized traction when walking to the ice cream parlor, something that sneakers don’t provide? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2094 "2017-12-04T19:19:32Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Do you need foot protection or specialized traction when walking to the ice cream parlor, something that sneakers don’t provide? **No.** ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2095 "2017-12-04T19:49:28Z")
Are the sneakers incompatible with some other apparel you are wearing? If so, is the other apparel associated with going to get ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2096 "2017-12-04T19:52:31Z")
Ok so you eat the ice cream while walking - are you walking back home? Or are you walking to another location relevant to the puzzle? ---
**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 4, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2097 "2017-12-04T21:06:47Z")
Do you go someplace after eating ice cream that has a dress code that prohibits sneakers? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2098 "2017-12-04T21:11:36Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Are the sneakers incompatible with some other apparel you are wearing? **No.** > [@](#): > > If so, is the other apparel associated with going to get ice cream? **No.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2099 "2017-12-04T21:13:23Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Ok so you eat the ice cream while walking - are you walking back home? Or are you walking to another location relevant to the puzzle? **I am walking back home.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2100 "2017-12-04T21:14:36Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Do you go someplace after eating ice cream that has a dress code that prohibits sneakers? **No.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=104) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=106)