# 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:** 153
**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 26, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3042 "2018-05-26T01:31:23Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > So, two gentlemen had a disagreement and both felt it could only be answered by a duel. Instead of fighting with swords or pistols they would draw lots. And they agreed the loser must kill himself. > > Is that it? Let’s call it. Dueling was illegal in Germany already, so the began to do “American duels”. Two people would have a duel, but draw lots instead of use weapons. Loser kills himself within an agreed amount of time. The German government had to outlaw 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:** [May 26, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3043 "2018-05-26T12:42:56Z")
Huh, somehow I’d the impression that we’d already asked about dueling. ---
**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 26, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3044 "2018-05-26T15:20:53Z")
Part of the point of duelling was not one of the combatants dying but both combatants showing that they were prepared to. Combats with swords were often to first blood; those with pistols often deliberately missed. Honour was satisfied simply by the other guy showing up. But you never knew until the day. ---
**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 26, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3045 "2018-05-26T17:40:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Huh, somehow I’d the impression that we’d already asked about dueling. Nope. ---
**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 31, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3046 "2018-05-31T20:34:32Z")
\*\*Losing things is frustrating, but I once knew a guy who lost something really important and it ended up making him better at his job. What’d he lose and how did losing it help him in his job? \*\* ---
**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 31, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3047 "2018-05-31T21:31:24Z")
Was the something an object? A person? A relationship? Another job? Something professional? (Like a certification / trade membership / etc.) Was the something part of himself? A sense? A limb? An extremity? (I’ve heard of people who become blind accentuate their hearing.) ---
**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 31, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3048 "2018-05-31T22:50:16Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Was the something an object? A person? A relationship? Another job? Something professional? (Like a certification / trade membership / etc.) > > NO > > Was the something part of himself? A sense? A limb? An extremity? (I’ve heard of people who become blind accentuate their hearing.) > > Yes. > > A limb. Hey, this one might be pretty easy! 🙂 ---
**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 31, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3049 "2018-05-31T23:28:37Z")
Is this the electrician with a false leg story? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3050 "2018-06-01T01:44:13Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is this the electrician with a false leg story? No. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3051 "2018-06-01T05:12:47Z")
He was an ordinary bandit. Now he’s a one-armed bandit and makes a lot more money. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3052 "2018-06-01T05:26:42Z")
Does not having a limb help him fit into places he could otherwise not fit? Is it right arm? Left arm? Right leg? Left leg? Was the one missing the dominant limb? (e.g. left arm for left-handed person) (Really satisfying answer to the previous one, BTW.) ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3053 "2018-06-01T06:22:24Z")
Did he lose his limb on the job? Does he use a mechanical replacement for it? Is he an athlete? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3054 "2018-06-01T17:36:47Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > He was an ordinary bandit. Now he’s a one-armed bandit and makes a lot more money. 🙂 No. 😅 > [@BigT](#): > > Does not having a limb help him fit into places he could otherwise not fit? **NO** > Is it right arm? Left arm? Right leg? Left leg? > Was the one missing the dominant limb? (e.g. left arm for left-handed person) > > (Really satisfying answer to the previous one, BTW.) Both legs, actually. I should have said “limbs”, not “a limb”. He lost his legs. > [@kk\_fusion](#): > > Did he lose his limb on the job? YES, sort of. > Does he use a mechanical replacement for it? NO(not on the job, anyway). > Is he an athlete? NO KK ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3055 "2018-06-01T18:07:50Z")
Is he a panhandler? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3056 "2018-06-01T19:59:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is he a panhandler? No. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3057 "2018-06-01T20:13:06Z")
Is the advantage due to a decrease in weight? Does he 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:** [June 1, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3058 "2018-06-01T20:26:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is the advantage due to a decrease in weight? > Does he work in the entertainment industry? No to both. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3059 "2018-06-01T20:52:01Z")
Does losing both legs allow him to fit somewhere more easily? Balance somewhere more easily? Create a useful body weight distribution? ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3060 "2018-06-01T21:11:55Z")
Does the manner of loss of his legs matter? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3061 "2018-06-01T21:17:03Z")
Magician or Magician’s assistant? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=152) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=154)