# 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:** 15
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/281 "2017-07-14T16:26:28Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I went to the National Federation of the Blind convention about 18 years ago. I was there as a Deaf-blind interpreter. There were hundreds of blind people-- maybe thousands. There were people with canes, people with all breeds of dogs (but mostly Retrievers), and people with sighted guides whose arms they held. I did not observe one person being led by a bell… Probably their friends were all told to leave the bells that they usually follow at home. Imagine the chaos with everyone following the wrong bells. People would be walking into traffic, falling down open manholes, falling off balconies. Bellpocalypse. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/282 "2017-07-14T16:32:31Z")
Was the name Miami “runner up” or “second in the ranking” on the occasion that the name Wintergreen “won” or was first in some ranking? ---
**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:** [July 14, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/283 "2017-07-14T16:33:08Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Was the name Miami “runner up” or “second in the ranking” on the occasion that Wintergreen “won” or was first in some ranking? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/284 "2017-07-14T16:37:13Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I went to the National Federation of the Blind convention about 18 years ago. I was there as a Deaf-blind interpreter. There were hundreds of blind people-- maybe thousands. There were people with canes, people with all breeds of dogs (but mostly Retrievers), and people with sighted guides whose arms they held. I did not observe one person being led by a bell. > > FWIW, I did not see one person using the “clicker” method either, and I think that pretty much just happens on TV. > > I did see some small children with bells on them-- they were children with blind parents. > [@Riemann](#): > > Probably their friends were all told to leave the bells that they usually follow at home. Imagine the chaos with everyone following the wrong bells. People would be walking into traffic, falling down open manholes, falling off balconies. Bellpocalypse. I have never seen nor heard it done myself, but heard and read about it. I always assumed it was the kind of thing done on an open field or well distinguished path, and certainly not near a cliff. So the idea of a blind man following someone with a bell is minimally plausible. And kind of old fashioned too. I wouldn’t be surprised if the blind man and the bell story goes way back, and the tightrope walker story as well. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/285 "2017-07-14T16:41:26Z")
So to confirm, each of the town names “won” or was ranked first in something at some time? Is this ranking a periodic event, e.g. annual? Is the ranking an objective property of the name? Or is it a subjective choice, chosen by some group of people in some way? ---
**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:** [July 14, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/286 "2017-07-14T17:44:24Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > So to confirm, each of the town names “won” or was ranked first in something at some time? > Is this ranking a periodic event, e.g. annual? > Is the ranking an objective property of the name? > Or is it a subjective choice, chosen by some group of people in some way? Yes. Each of the Town names won or was ranked first in something at some time. Yes it is a periodic event. Yes on objective (if I understand the question correctly) No on subjective. ×××××× Sorry I have to go to work now. I will try to answer more questions at lunch break if the solution has not already been posted. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/287 "2017-07-14T18:31:49Z")
This is more of a challenge than a riddle. There isn’t a single right or wrong answer, but better or worse suggestions. Find an English language sentence with the greatest proportion of apostrophes to letters. I’ve got a good one in mind, but can anyone do better? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/288 "2017-07-14T18:54:18Z")
I guess we’d better tag our posts if we’re doing two simultaneously. Biotop: So based on the answers, I have this general formulation, is this correct? In [a certain year], the town name Wintergreen/Johnstown/Omaha/Spokane was also the name of the [something-other-than-a-town] that was [most numerous / rarest / largest / smallest… something quantifiable]. ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/289 "2017-07-14T19:13:02Z")
Aha! I see that Wintergreen was the name of the horse that won the 1909 Kentucky Derby. The runner up was Miami ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/290 "2017-07-14T19:37:31Z")
So just to put a period on it… All those cities share a name with a horse that won the Kentucky Derby. Great puzzle. You also could have used Needles, CA ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/291 "2017-07-14T19:40:43Z")
> [@RadioWave](#): > > Aha! > > I see that Wintergreen was the name of the horse that won the 1909 Kentucky Derby. The runner up was > > Miami Googling the names of all the towns gives you that answer instantly. The idea of this was that we try to get there without Google. Never mind. Great question, Biotop. ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/292 "2017-07-14T19:53:53Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Googling the names of all the towns gives you that answer instantly. The idea of this was that we try to get there without Google. Never mind. > > Great question, Biotop. I didn’t. Based on the answers previously given I thought Wintergreen sounded like a horse so I googled “wintergreen race horse” which confirmed what I thought. Sue me for not having memorized the 1909 Kentucky Derby winners. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/293 "2017-07-14T19:57:01Z")
I don’t think it would have been possible to get there without Googling, though. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/294 "2017-07-14T20:20:00Z")
> [@RadioWave](#): > > I didn’t. Based on the answers previously given I thought Wintergreen sounded like a horse… Fair enough. Apologies for doubting you. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/295 "2017-07-14T23:42:43Z")
I’ll go. Again, if you know it, don’t play. I like this one, though I don’t think it is very hard. It’s a situational one, which I find very fun. **A man is at dinner, reading the news. He sees a headline, “Death At Sea”. He knows immediately that a murder has been committed. Explain.** I’ll take yes/no questions. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/296 "2017-07-14T23:47:30Z")
Is the man eating dinner at home? If no, is he at sea eating dinner? ---
**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:** [July 14, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/297 "2017-07-14T23:51:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > 1. Is the man eating dinner at home? > > 2. is he at sea eating dinner? 1. Yes. 2. No. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/298 "2017-07-14T23:58:56Z")
1. Is the fact that he’s (a)eating (b)specifically dinner relevant? 2. Does he know the victim? 3. Does he live in a houseboat, lighthouse, or some unusual, water-related, structure? ---
**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:** [July 15, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/299 "2017-07-15T00:38:58Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > 1. Is the fact that he’s (a)eating (b)specifically dinner relevant? > > 2. Does he know the victim? > > 3. Does he live in a houseboat, lighthouse, or some unusual, water-related, structure? 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/300 "2017-07-15T00:53:15Z")
Did he murder the victim? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=16)