# 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:** 157
**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 7, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3122 "2018-06-07T02:06:16Z")
Did their employers refuse to give free samples to staff? ---
**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 7, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3123 "2018-06-07T02:09:35Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > _“Was this before or after the French Revolution?”_ > No. (during) Protesting the image of the King’s head on the money? Or \*not \*being on the money. ---
**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 7, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3124 "2018-06-07T02:11:49Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did they go on strike to get different graphics on the money? No > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Did their employers refuse to give free samples to staff? Yes, but the strike had nothing to do with that. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Protesting the image of the King’s head on the money? Or \*not \*being on the money. > > No. Prepare for disappointment. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3125 "2018-06-07T02:37:58Z")
Does the strike have to do with the extra work from the creation of new money? We’re they making new money and getting paid with old? Did they print so much money it was worthless and therefore by striking and halting production the value of existing money was increased? ---
**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 7, 2018, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3126 "2018-06-07T02:53:21Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Does the strike have to do with the extra work from the creation of new money? > > YES > > We’re they making new money and getting paid with old? > > NO > > Did they print so much money it was worthless and therefore by striking and halting production the value of existing money was increased? > > NO I’m going to call it because I think this one is mainly solved, but is also not a great puzzle to me. Ahem. **What was unique about my strike is that my workers went on strike so they could make _less_ money. Not earn less, but create less at the mint. France owed so much money in the last 1700’s, they just decided to print it all off. It got so bad, workers at the mint went on strike because of how much work they had to do.** That’s honestly it. Don’t throw tomatoes at me! ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3127 "2018-06-07T03:44:38Z")
(lobs overripe tomato at **Mahaloth** ) +++++ \*\*Last summer I visited a funeral parlor even though no one I knew had died recently. Instead of going to the visiting room or making arrangements for a service, I found my way to the basement. When I got down there I saw a man and five children. As I watched them I saw each of the group putting a certain small object on the floor next to a large closed coffin. They did this one after the other, each picking up the object after a short time. Once the group finished, I also performed this action. Why? \*\* ---
**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 7, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3128 "2018-06-07T17:56:33Z")
Is everyone involved in your puzzle human? Is any kind of ceremony happening? Do any of the individuals work there? Is this an activity that is common for people to do? Is there any word play involved? Was anyone in the large closed coffin? ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3129 "2018-06-07T18:13:53Z")
**reply to Mahaloth** Is everyone involved in your puzzle human? **Yes** Is any kind of ceremony happening? **No** Do any of the individuals work there? **No** Is this an activity that is common for people to do? **Yes** Is there any word play involved? \*\*No. (At least nothing that misdirects or misinterprets the facts) \*\* Was anyone in the large closed coffin? **No** ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3130 "2018-06-07T19:21:02Z")
- To confirm, everyone is placing and picking up one single object (not several of the same object)? - It’s a bit odd of you to be visiting to the funeral parlour - is it a normal working funeral parlor? - Are the numbers and proportions of the people present of any significance - for example, would the puzzle still function if it was, say, a woman and three children? ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3131 "2018-06-07T19:35:51Z")
**reply to Walken After Midnight** - To confirm, everyone is placing and picking up one single object (not several of the same object)? \*\* several of the same.\*\* - It’s a bit odd of you to be visiting to the funeral parlour - is it a normal working funeral parlor? **Yes** - Are the numbers and proportions of the people present of any significance - for example, would the puzzle still function if it was, say, a woman and three children?\*\* Numbers/proportions not significant. Women and three children certainly possible.\*\* ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3132 "2018-06-07T19:40:52Z")
**To clarify: Everyone is placing down and picking up a single similar object. However, my object was not the same physical one as theirs.** ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3133 "2018-06-07T19:47:02Z")
- Had you come to the funeral parlor for any particular reason? - Had you come with foreknowledge in order to visit this coffin/room? - Was the coffin the focus of everyone’s attention? - Did something happen when an object was placed on the floor? - Is this something that takes place in a particular country? - If so, is it outside America? ---
**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 7, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3134 "2018-06-07T19:49:30Z")
ETA: Making everything past tense Did you know somebody who was expected to die? Did you know who would eventually be in the coffin? Were the actions because of a superstition? Were these actions associated with a particular religion? nation? ethnic group? culture? Did you know the man and/or the children? Is the largeness of the coffin significant to the answer? ---
**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 7, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3135 "2018-06-07T19:55:38Z")
Could the activity you participated in take place in a location other than a funeral parlor? Would the activity be likely to take place in another location? Was the presence of the coffin relevant to the activity performed? Could the coffin be replaced by some other object? ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3136 "2018-06-07T19:59:53Z")
**reply to Walken After Midnight** - Had you come to the funeral parlor for any particular reason? **Yes** - Had you come with foreknowledge in order to visit this coffin/room? **Yes** - Was the coffin the focus of everyone’s attention? **No** - Did something happen when an object was placed on the floor? **Yes** - Is this something that takes place in a particular country? **No** - If so, is it outside America? **N/A** ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3137 "2018-06-07T20:04:35Z")
**reply to Folly** Did you know somebody who was expected to die? **No** Did you know who would eventually be in the coffin? **No** Were the actions because of a superstition? **No** Were these actions associated with a particular religion? nation? ethnic group? culture? **No to All** Did you know the man and/or the children? **No** Is the largeness of the coffin significant to the answer? **Not really…** ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3138 "2018-06-07T20:06:44Z")
**reply to Chronos** Could the activity you participated in take place in a location other than a funeral parlor? **Yes** Would the activity be likely to take place in another location? **Yes** Was the presence of the coffin relevant to the activity performed? **Yes** Could the coffin be replaced by some other object? **Yes** ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3139 "2018-06-07T20:13:17Z")
- Were the reasons that you and the other people were there anything that could be considered to be akin to entertainment, tourism or sightseeing? - Had you paid an entrance fee? Compared to a coin, were the objects placed on the floor: - smaller? - same size? - larger? ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3140 "2018-06-07T20:18:25Z")
**reply to Walken After Midnight** - Were the reasons that you and the other people were there anything that could be considered to be akin to entertainment, tourism or sightseeing? **Yes** - Had you paid an entrance fee? **No** Compared to a coin, were the objects placed on the floor: - smaller? **No** - same size? **No** - larger? **Yes** ---
**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:** [June 7, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3141 "2018-06-07T20:29:34Z")
About the “objects”: - had you brought your object with you specifically for this occasion? - is it a common object that many people might regularly carry with them on their person while going about their daily life? - did you acquire your object at the location you were at? - is the object made primarily of metal? - does it have some metal in it? - is the object electric/electronic? - is it wood or plant-derived? - is it a candle or light source? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=156) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=158)