# 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:** 136
**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, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2701 "2018-03-06T02:48:34Z")
Yes, Viagra, but you’re not _quite_ finished yet. ---
**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, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2702 "2018-03-06T03:14:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, Viagra, but you’re not _quite_ finished yet. OK, so are they using Viagra to help endangered animals to mate? Is PETA against that? ---
**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, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2703 "2018-03-06T03:29:38Z")
OK, so are they using Viagra to help endangered animals to mate? **No** Is PETA against that? **Well, probably, given that PETA is against pretty much everything, but not applicable** ---
**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 6, 2018, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2704 "2018-03-06T08:56:54Z")
Are the reptiles semi-aquatic? Like iguanas? If so, is viagra helping them warm up more quickly after leaving the sea? Because it dilates the blood vessels allowing heat to circulate more quickly. ---
**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 6, 2018, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2705 "2018-03-06T09:06:59Z")
And, of course, if they can recover from the sea more quickly, they can mate sooner. ---
**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, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2706 "2018-03-06T14:26:21Z")
**No on all counts** The part you’re still missing is the part that I thought would have been gotten first. But then, you guys ask different questions than I would. ---
**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 6, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2707 "2018-03-06T18:30:23Z")
So, are the reptiles fully aquatic? Fully terrestrial? Ground based? Arboreal? ---
**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, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2708 "2018-03-06T18:59:50Z")
**Terrestrial arboreal** ---
**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, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2709 "2018-03-06T20:33:56Z")
Is the sexual benefit of Viagra the “change of plans” you referred to in the puzzle? Does PETA think the company is somehow cruel to animals? Is Pfizer(or something like that) the company? I think they made/invented Viagra. ---
**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, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2710 "2018-03-06T20:52:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Is the sexual benefit of Viagra the “change of plans” you referred to in the puzzle? > > Does PETA think the company is somehow cruel to animals? > > Is Pfizer(or something like that) the company? I think they made/invented Viagra. **Yes to all** ---
**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, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2711 "2018-03-06T20:59:07Z")
OK. Is what makes them unpopular with animal rights groups the part we are missing? Did they test Viagra on animals? Is this what pisses off animal rights groups? :shrugs: ---
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2712 "2018-03-06T21:51:33Z")
Is what makes them unpopular with animal rights groups the part we are missing? **No** Did they test Viagra on animals? **I don’t know** ---
**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, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2713 "2018-03-06T22:10:31Z")
\*OK. \* Were the relevant endangered species directly helped by the Viagra? I mean, did they take it themselves? \*Ah, how about this. \* Did the Viagra replace something else? _I literally just talked myself into another guess. I left my “out loud” thoughts up there. My next attempt at solving is:_ **Was the boon because people were eating the endangered species as an aphrodisiac and now less people need “fake” alternative medicine ones because Viagra actually works?** ---
**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, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2714 "2018-03-06T22:30:21Z")
Yes! Finally! [Traditional Chinese medicine used parts of geckos, seals, and other animals](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2985/has-viagra-helped-endangered-species-by-reducing-demand-for-rhino-horn-etc/) as potency aids, but now that Viagra is available and actually works (and is cheaper than the traditional “medicines”), nobody wants to buy those any more, and so there’s less reason to hunt those animals. I was expecting people to start by asking why the animals were endangered: Is it due to human activity? (yes) Is it due to hunting? (yes) Was the company in question doing the hunting? (no) Was it for food? (no), etc. ---
**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 7, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2715 "2018-03-07T01:03:03Z")
I went from solving none of them to two-in-a-row! Yay, me! ---
**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 11, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2716 "2018-03-11T20:03:47Z")
**Pete is required to wear brightly colored vests at work, but only during breaks. Why?** If you are spoiled on this one for some reason, zip it! 😃 ---
**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 11, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2717 "2018-03-11T20:28:06Z")
Are the vests worn for purposes of safety? Does Pete have other requirements for his attire when he’s not on break? Does Pete work in the entertainment industry? ---
**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 11, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2718 "2018-03-11T20:38:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Are the vests worn for purposes of safety? YES > Does Pete have other requirements for his attire when he’s not on break? NO > Does Pete work in the entertainment industry? YES kk ---
**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 11, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2719 "2018-03-11T20:56:49Z")
These vests, are they dayglo / high-vis vests? Are these vests what we in the UK call waistcoats? Or sleeveless jackets such as workmen wear? Do these vests have a logo on them? Does Pete wear a suit when he’s not on break? Is Pete an actor? ---
**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 11, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2720 "2018-03-11T22:05:30Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > These vests, are they dayglo / high-vis vests? YES > Are these vests what we in the UK call waistcoats? Or sleeveless jackets such as workmen wear? Sleeveless > Do these vests have a logo on them? Irrelevant/don’t know > Does Pete wear a suit when he’s not on break? Yes > Is Pete an actor? Yes KK [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=135) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=137)