# 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:** 113
**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:** [January 1, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2241 "2018-01-01T22:35:57Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I’ve been resisting the urge to cheat for six days now! - Keep up the good fight! 😃 > > Was the military equipment involved a form of transportation? SEE BELOW > > Was the military equipment involved a form of weaponry? SEE BELOW > > Was the military equipment involved communications equipment at the time it was used? **Jasper’s was, YES.** > > Was Jasper serving in the army? NO > > Was Jasper serving in the navy? YES > > Was Jasper serving in the air force? NO > > Was Jasper serving in some other military branch? NO **Note: I’m not sure what military equipment you are referring to anymore. The equipment Jasper used to announce about water?** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2242 "2018-01-01T22:42:32Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > **Note: I’m not sure what military equipment you are referring to anymore. The equipment Jasper used to announce about water?** Yes. > [@](#): > > Was the device involved military equipment at the time it was used? YES ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2243 "2018-01-01T22:46:13Z")
So Jasper was in the U.S. Navy during wartime. He used a piece of military communications equipment to announce that he needed water. The fact that the announcement was able to be heard over a distance longer than a mile caused a group of other military personnel to take action that ultimately save thousands of lives. Is this a correct summary? ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2244 "2018-01-02T01:27:59Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > So Jasper was in the U.S. Navy during wartime. He used a piece of military communications equipment to announce that he needed water. The fact that the announcement was able to be heard over a distance longer than a mile caused a group of other military personnel to take action that ultimately save thousands of lives. Is this a correct summary? Yes, pretty good summary of what you seem to know at this point. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2245 "2018-01-02T02:41:02Z")
Was Jasper on land when he made the announcement? Was Jasper on a submarine? Was Jasper on an aircraft carrier? Was Jasper on some other type of Navy vessel? Was Jasper in an aircraft? ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2246 "2018-01-02T02:51:13Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Was Jasper on land when he made the announcement? No. > > Was Jasper on a submarine? NO > > Was Jasper on an aircraft carrier? Something like this. I think so. > > Was Jasper on some other type of Navy vessel? See above > > Was Jasper in an aircraft? NO KK ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2247 "2018-01-02T03:03:36Z")
Oh, wait, I think I know this one now. Lemme see what I can do for confirmatory questions that won’t give it away. Was Jasper’s statement truthful? Was the message received by someone other than the person(s) to which it was sent? I’m expecting “no” and “yes”, here. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2248 "2018-01-02T03:47:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Oh, wait, I think I know this one now. Lemme see what I can do for confirmatory questions that won’t give it away. > > Was Jasper’s statement truthful? NO > > Was the message received by someone other than the person(s) to which it was sent? YES > > I’m expecting “no” and “yes”, here. kk ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2249 "2018-01-02T11:16:44Z")
Was this a deliberately false message designed to mislead the enemy? Did this consist of false documents left on a dead body? ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2250 "2018-01-02T13:22:28Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was this a deliberately false message designed to mislead the enemy? YES > > Did this consist of false documents left on a dead body? NO KK ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2251 "2018-01-02T13:46:52Z")
Was Jasper one of the Navajo Code Talkers? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2252 "2018-01-02T13:47:33Z")
Just to cut off some dead ends: Was the method by which the message was sent in any way remarkable? (if it’s what I’m pretty sure it is, the answer is “no”) ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2253 "2018-01-02T16:11:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Just to cut off some dead ends: > > Was the method by which the message was sent in any way remarkable? > > (if it’s what I’m pretty sure it is, the answer is “no”) No. Chronos, you have it right, I’m sure. Shhhh. However, Chronos seems to be offering hints a bit. Are you guys tired enough of this one and you want hints from me? I actually think you guys will get it without any help, but if someone has a new one and we want help to rush it along some, I can offer nudges. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2254 "2018-01-02T18:11:21Z")
I’m not actually sure how solvable this one is. I got it because I already knew of the historical incident, and once enough details came out, I saw how they matched. But if you’re starting from scratch, there are some subtleties that would be tough to figure out. Now, if it _is_ solvable from scratch, well, I’d really like to see how you guys manage that. So I won’t give any hints that actually lead towards that direction. But I figured there was little harm in cutting off unproductive lines of inquiry. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2255 "2018-01-02T18:15:32Z")
I guess from the answer the Chronos’s question, Jasper wasn’t a code talker. ---
**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2256 "2018-01-02T18:20:36Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was Jasper on land when he made the announcement? **No**. Check your sources. I believe Jasper was on land. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2257 "2018-01-02T19:01:15Z")
Since several seem to have worked it out already, I’ll put my guess in spoilers. This is the infamous transmission that allowed US Intelligence to confirm that they had broken the Japanese codes prior to the battle of Midway, right? ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2258 "2018-01-02T19:49:33Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Since several seem to have worked it out already, I’ll put my guess in spoilers. Assuming **Quartz** guessed correctly, I’ll say, as someone unfamiliar with the incident, I might’ve gotten just a bit closer in the following way: [spoiler]I was thinking about the possibility that a method of transmission had been compromised. But I didn’t make the connection to codebreaking, probably because I was thinking about Jasper’s method of transmission as the compromised one, and was really stuck on the idea that Jasper, an individual, needed water. (After googling, I see that it was a larger-scale need for water – and that **Quartz** was indeed correct.) I liked the puzz, but I was totally stuck.[/spoiler] ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2259 "2018-01-02T20:50:03Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Since several seem to have worked it out already, I’ll put my guess in spoilers. > > This is the infamous transmission that allowed US Intelligence to confirm that they had broken the Japanese codes prior to the battle of Midway, right? Oh. Uh, yes, that’s it. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2260 "2018-01-02T20:51:05Z")
> [@newme](#): > > Check your sources. I believe Jasper was on land. Thanks, I would update my answer, but it appears to have been “solved”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=112) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=114)