# 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:** 148
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2942 "2018-05-18T21:38:30Z")
Germany outlawed something related to suicide (or something that led to suicides), but it was not written or visual media, nor was it a manufactured item. Was a specific activity outlawed? Was disseminating information about a specific belief outlawed? ---
**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:** [May 18, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2943 "2018-05-18T22:13:01Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Germany outlawed something related to suicide (or something that led to suicides), but it was not written or visual media, nor was it a manufactured item. YEP > > Was a specific activity outlawed? YES > > Was disseminating information about a specific belief outlawed? NO KK ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2944 "2018-05-18T22:35:41Z")
Is the activity that was outlawed connected to a specific type of place - bridges, parks, roofs, something like that? Does the activity require any specific equipment? Does the activity involve any kind of dare, challenge or bet? ---
**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:** [May 18, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2945 "2018-05-18T23:09:40Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Is the activity that was outlawed connected to a specific type of place - bridges, parks, roofs, something like that? NO > > Does the activity require any specific equipment? NOTHING RELEVANT. > > Does the activity involve any kind of dare, challenge or bet? YES, KIND OF. Kind of on that last one. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2946 "2018-05-18T23:13:25Z")
When people did the thing that was outlawed, were they intending to die? Did they think they had a good reason to want to die? ---
**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:** [May 18, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2947 "2018-05-18T23:48:35Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > When people did the thing that was outlawed, were they intending to die? NO > > Did they think they had a good reason to want to die?NO KK ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2948 "2018-05-19T06:07:05Z")
Were the people doing the outlawed thing because they thought they would gain financially? Were the people doing the outlawed thing to try to impress their friends? Were the people doing the outlawed thing in order to become famous? Were the people doing the outlawed thing in order to break a record? Were the people doing the outlawed thing because they thought it would have health benefits? Were the people doing the outlawed thing as a form of protest? ---
**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:** [May 19, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2949 "2018-05-19T13:18:19Z")
So, is the activity Bungee jumping? BASE jumping? Eating Tide pods? ---
**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:** [May 19, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2950 "2018-05-19T17:04:37Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing because they thought they would gain financially? NO > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing to try to impress their friends? NO > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing in order to become famous? NO > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing in order to break a record? NO > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing because they thought it would have health benefits? NO > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing as a form of protest? NO > [@Quartz](#): > > So, is the activity > > Bungee jumping? NO > > BASE jumping? NO > > Eating Tide pods? NO No to everything asked, actually. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2951 "2018-05-19T23:34:00Z")
Does it involve ingesting some food rapidly or in large quantities? [The cinnamon challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon_challenge)? [The Gallon of milk challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_chugging)? something similar? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2952 "2018-05-20T00:01:26Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Does it involve ingesting some food rapidly or in large quantities? > > [The cinnamon challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon_challenge)? > > [The Gallon of milk challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_chugging)? > > something similar? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2953 "2018-05-20T00:35:27Z")
I saw “no” to extreme sports up above, 1. but was the activity sports related at all? 2. was it related to dancing? 3. related to any other form of socializing? Onward… ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2954 "2018-05-20T00:36:21Z")
Would the people who did the thing was that outlawed say that they had a reason for doing it? But it was none of the reasons that I listed above? Did they just do it to have fun/be silly? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2955 "2018-05-20T01:02:50Z")
> [@MonkeyMensch](#): > > I saw “no” to extreme sports up above, > > 1. but was the activity sports related at all? > 2. was it related to dancing? > 3. related to any other form of socializing? > Onward… No to all. I don’t know what you mean by “onward”. But no to 1-3. > [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Would the people who did the thing was that outlawed say that they had a reason for doing it? YES > > But it was none of the reasons that I listed above? NONE OF THEM. > > Did they just do it to have fun/be silly? NO ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2956 "2018-05-20T01:34:27Z")
Were the people doing the outlawed thing alone? Were they with others doing the same thing? Did they have other people watching them? Did the outlawed thing have anything to do with the military? Were the people doing the outlawed thing trying to hurt someone other than themselves? Were the people doing the outlawed thing trying to learn something or gain knowledge (as through a scientific experiment or test)? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2957 "2018-05-20T02:13:25Z")
Did it involve some sort of game, sport or competition? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2018, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2958 "2018-05-20T02:45:18Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing alone? NO > > Were they with others doing the same thing? NO > > Did they have other people watching them? MAYBE?? IRRELEVANT > > Did the outlawed thing have anything to do with the military? NO > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing trying to hurt someone other than themselves? YES > > Were the people doing the outlawed thing trying to learn something or gain knowledge (as through a scientific experiment or test)? NO > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Did it involve some sort of game, sport or competition? I’d say YES. Kind of. If anyone wants to summarize, I’ll let you know what you got wrong/right. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2959 "2018-05-20T03:49:02Z")
My summary: German adults who were trying to hurt other people did a thing that was later outlawed because it resulted in human deaths. Most reasonable people would consider the thing they did to be stupid. The deaths occurred in multiple different ways. They had something to do with suicide, but the people doing the stupid things were not trying or intending to commit suicide. The outlawed activity was kind of in the area of a challenge, dare or bet. Were the people doing the stupid thing the ones who died? Did the people doing the stupid thing intend to kill the people they were trying to hurt? Were the people doing the stupid thing trying to hurt other people physically? Were they trying to hurt other people mentally/emotionally/psychologically? Were the people who died trying to die? Were they trying to be hurt? Were the people who did the stupid thing police officers? Were the people who did the stupid thing all in the same profession? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2960 "2018-05-20T04:26:14Z")
Was this any kind of reenactment? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2961 "2018-05-20T14:02:25Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > My summary: German adults who were trying to hurt other people did a thing that was later outlawed because it resulted in human deaths. Most reasonable people would consider the thing they did to be stupid. The deaths occurred in multiple different ways. They had something to do with suicide, but the people doing the stupid things were not trying or intending to commit suicide. The outlawed activity was kind of in the area of a challenge, dare or bet. > > YES. SPOT ON. > Were the people doing the stupid thing the ones who died? > > PEOPLE? NO. PERSON? YES. > > Did the people doing the stupid thing intend to kill the people they were trying to hurt? > > YES. PERSON, NOT PEOPLE, THOUGH. > > Were the people doing the stupid thing trying to hurt other people physically? > > YES. PERSON. > > Were they trying to hurt other people mentally/emotionally/psychologically? > > NO > > Were the people who died trying to die? Were they trying to be hurt? > > YES TO TRYING. NO TO HURT. > > Were the people who did the stupid thing police officers? > > NO > > Were the people who did the stupid thing all in the same profession? > > NO > [@Biotop](#): > > Was this any kind of reenactment? NO [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=147) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=149)