# 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:** 139
**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:** [March 20, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2761 "2018-03-20T15:02:16Z")
Is W and L, Washington and Lincoln? ETA: Actually Pat, I think I’d just like to solve the puzzle. 25x, lincoln on penny, washington on quarter. 5x. Washington on Dollar, Lincoln on 5 dollar bill. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2762 "2018-03-20T15:17:33Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Is W and L, Washington and Lincoln? > ETA: Actually Pat, I think I’d just like to solve the puzzle. 25x, lincoln on penny, washington on quarter. 5x. Washington on Dollar, Lincoln on 5 dollar bill. That’s s got to be it. Well done! And a fine puzzle too. ---
**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 20, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2763 "2018-03-20T15:45:28Z")
Yup, that’s it. **Biotop** , since you’re back in the thread, do you have another one to offer? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2764 "2018-03-20T16:11:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yup, that’s it. > > **Biotop** , since you’re back in the thread, do you have another one to offer? Not at this time. Was your W&L puzzle original? I really do think it was a fine riddle, even though I did not have a chance to really play 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 20, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2765 "2018-03-20T20:26:38Z")
Yup, that was mine. ---
**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 20, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2766 "2018-03-20T22:51:46Z")
I’ve been working on this one a few days. Hope it’s OK. \*\* As Rex died, his final thoughts were, “But…the investment worked the first time!” And he was gone. What had happened? \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2767 "2018-03-21T00:57:32Z")
Did he die by falling? Poisoning? In an explosion? ---
**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 21, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2768 "2018-03-21T01:05:50Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Did he die by falling? > Poisoning? > In an explosion? No to all. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2769 "2018-03-21T01:35:32Z")
To clarify - “And he was gone” does mean he died? Was the investment a financial investment? Was this the second time the investment was made? ---
**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 21, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2770 "2018-03-21T01:40:52Z")
> [@j666](#): > > To clarify - “And he was gone” does mean he died? YES > > Was the investment a financial investment? YES > > Was this the second time the investment was made? His death was after the second time and yes, only twice. KK ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2771 "2018-03-21T01:41:59Z")
The “investment” was something Rex had himself procured or made? Was the primary purpose of the “investment” to prevent him from coming to harm? Rex had been in the same circumstances at least once before? And the “investment” had previously prevented him from coming to harm? Was the “investment” a physical object that he had about his person or in his environs? ---
**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 21, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2772 "2018-03-21T01:55:44Z")
Was it possible for the “investment” to work a second time? If the “investment” had worked a second time, would he have lived? Did the “investment” itself directly cause his death? Was his death directly caused by himself? Was his death directly caused by another individual? Was his death directly caused by an accident? Was his death directly caused by an act of God? Is the form of his death (i.e., what would show up on a medical examiner’s report) relevant? ---
**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 21, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2773 "2018-03-21T01:56:40Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > The “investment” was something Rex had himself procured or made? > > - Procured? I guess, yes. > > - Made? No. > > Was the primary purpose of the “investment” to prevent him from coming to harm? NO > > Rex had been in the same circumstances at least once before? **Which circumstances?** > And the “investment” had previously prevented him from coming to harm? NO > > Was the “investment” a physical object that he had about his person or in his environs?NO kk ---
**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:** [March 21, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2774 "2018-03-21T02:16:06Z")
Was time travel involved? ---
**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 21, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2775 "2018-03-21T02:30:48Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Was time travel involved? No ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2776 "2018-03-21T04:30:20Z")
Did Rex make the investment the first time? ---
**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 21, 2018, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2777 "2018-03-21T11:27:25Z")
**Mahaloth** , you missed post 2771. ---
**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 21, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2778 "2018-03-21T20:59:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was it possible for the “investment” to work a second time? YES > If the “investment” had worked a second time, would he have lived? YES, I think so. > Did the “investment” itself directly cause his death? NO > Was his death directly caused by himself? NO > Was his death directly caused by another individual? YES > Was his death directly caused by an accident? NO > Was his death directly caused by an act of God? NO > Is the form of his death (i.e., what would show up on a medical examiner’s report) relevant? I think so. > [@Folly](#): > > Was time travel involved? NO > [@j666](#): > > Did Rex make the investment the first time? YES > [@Chronos](#): > > **Mahaloth** , you missed post 2771. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2779 "2018-03-21T21:21:10Z")
Did Rex do anything dishonest? Was he the victim of dishonesty? Did the person who caused his death intend to kill him? ---
**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 21, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2780 "2018-03-21T22:08:17Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Did Rex do anything dishonest? YES > > Was he the victim of dishonesty? NO > > Did the person who caused his death intend to kill him? YES KK [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=138) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=140)