# 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:** 135
**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:** [March 4, 2018, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2681 "2018-03-04T10:12:38Z")
Are the reptiles crocodilians? Turtles? Snakes? I’m thinking that a warm outflow is increasing the local fish population on which predators are feeding. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2018, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2682 "2018-03-04T12:07:25Z")
Are the reptiles crocodilians? **No** Turtles? **No** Snakes? **No** I’m thinking that a warm outflow is increasing the local fish population on which predators are feeding. **No** ---
**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:** [March 4, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2683 "2018-03-04T12:43:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Are the reptiles crocodilians? **No** Just to check, that’s crocodilians, not crocodiles - so including alligators, garials, etc, etc. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2684 "2018-03-04T13:06:13Z")
Confirmed. I know what crocodilians are. To be clear, I’m not 100% certain that no crocodilians benefit from this, or various other critters I’ve said no to: I’m just going by the list in the article I found, which mentioned a variety of creatures, but not those. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2685 "2018-03-04T14:58:58Z")
Is the boon to fish related to their food source? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2686 "2018-03-04T19:17:37Z")
Is the boon to fish related to their food source? **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:** [March 5, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2687 "2018-03-05T00:40:25Z")
The “yes” answers so far: Mammals? Yes Reptiles? Yes Is the boon to reptiles to small ones? Yes \*\*Is the boon sex-related? Yes \*\* Is the boon also to fish? Yes I bolded “sex related” since it is the only thing that isn’t about a specific kind of animal. Is it a change in something the company does? Question vague; please rephrase Did the company produce something? If so, did they change what they produce? Did the company provide a service? If so, did they change what they do? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2688 "2018-03-05T01:04:48Z")
Did the company produce something? **Yes** If so, did they change what they produce? **No** Did the company provide a service? **No** If so, did they change what they do? **N/A** ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2689 "2018-03-05T02:12:38Z")
Is the boon related to hormone-type substances? “The change in plans was due to something company never expected” - was the ‘something’ related to international trade? Is the company a cosmetic / personal care products company? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2690 "2018-03-05T03:41:53Z")
Is the boon related to hormone-type substances? **No** “The change in plans was due to something company never expected” - was the ‘something’ related to international trade? **No** Is the company a cosmetic / personal care products company? **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:** [March 5, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2691 "2018-03-05T13:52:16Z")
Did what the company produces change? Did the purpose/use of what they produce change? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2692 "2018-03-05T14:03:23Z")
Is this related to perfume/fragrance? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2693 "2018-03-05T15:43:47Z")
Did what the company produces change? **No** Did the purpose/use of what they produce change? **Yes** Is this related to perfume/fragrance? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2694 "2018-03-05T18:20:03Z")
Is it an oil exploration/extraction company? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2695 "2018-03-05T21:02:30Z")
Is it an oil exploration/extraction company? **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:** [March 5, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2696 "2018-03-05T22:13:01Z")
A company changed its plans and these changes were a boon to conversation efforts of some endangered species. These species are mammals, small reptiles, and fish. The boon was specifically sex related. The changes of the plans were changes in the purpose of what they produce. Is the above summary right? Are there any other kinds of animals that benefited? In addition to mammals, fish, and small reptiles? Were any species of plants affected in a good way? Bad way? Does PETA dislike this company? Does this company produce a physical object? Is this company government related? Does this company pollute? Did they before the changes? Did this company discover a new use for a product they already made? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2697 "2018-03-05T22:20:46Z")
A company changed its plans and these changes were a boon to conversation efforts of some endangered species. These species are mammals, small reptiles, and fish. The boon was specifically sex related. The changes of the plans were changes in the purpose of what they produce. Is the above summary right? **Yes** Are there any other kinds of animals that benefited? In addition to mammals, fish, and small reptiles? **Yes** Were any species of plants affected in a good way? **Not that I know of, but I can’t rule it out** Bad way? **No** Does PETA dislike this company? **Yes** Does this company produce a physical object? **Yes** Is this company government related? **No** Does this company pollute? **Not significantly** Did they before the changes? **Not significantly** Did this company discover a new use for a product they already made? **Yes** ---
**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:** [March 5, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2698 "2018-03-05T23:25:59Z")
Was the discovery of the new use of their product accidental? Would you describe this situation as famous or well-known? Have most people heard of this company? And of the product the make? Is it a food product? Is it plastic? Is it clothing? Is it medicine? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2699 "2018-03-06T00:11:36Z")
Was the discovery of the new use of their product accidental? **Yes** Would you describe this situation as famous or well-known? **Yes** Have most people heard of this company? **Yes** And of the product the make? **Yes** Is it a food product? **No** Is it plastic? **No** Is it clothing? **No** Is it medicine? **Yes** ---
**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:** [March 6, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2700 "2018-03-06T00:21:20Z")
Viagra? I know that was found accidentally and helped many sexually. Penicillin? Certainly increased survival of many species. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=134) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=136)