# 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:** 161
**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 12, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3202 "2018-06-12T02:41:06Z")
Does the recording still exist? Is it likely that I have heard it? Has Mahaloth actually heard it? Was Thomas Edison directly involved in the incident? ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3203 "2018-06-12T02:56:33Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Is there cause effect between the string pull and the voice heard? > > YES > > Was the guest demonstrating something? > > NO, not really. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Does the recording still exist? YES > > Is it likely that I have heard it? YES. Probably. I mean…I don’t know, but I think it is pretty likely. > > Has Mahaloth actually heard it? YES, definitely. > > Was Thomas Edison directly involved in the incident? NO KK ---
**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 12, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3204 "2018-06-12T03:00:40Z")
Did this happen before 1900? Between 1900 and 1920? Between 1920 and 1940? Between 1940 and 1960? Between 1960 and 1980? Between 1980 and 2000? After 2000? ---
**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 12, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3205 "2018-06-12T03:16:48Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is it likely that I have heard it? YES. Probably. I mean…I don’t know, but I think it is pretty likely. > > Has Mahaloth actually heard it? YES, definitely. And, according to your earlier answer, you and I and the millions of other people all heard it at the same time. Is that correct? ---
**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 12, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3206 "2018-06-12T12:26:20Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did this happen before 1900? > Between 1900 and 1920? > Between 1920 and 1940? > Between 1940 and 1960? > Between 1960 and 1980? > Between 1980 and 2000? > After 2000? 2011 > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > And, according to your earlier answer, you and I and the millions of other people all heard it at the same time. Is that correct? Ah, no. I misread your question. I meant that you may have heard it in your lifetime and I definitely have heard it in my lifetime. Did I hear it at the same time as the millions heard it? Actually, no. Did you hear it at the same time as the millions heard it? I have no idea. Likely, no? Has Mahaloth ever heard it? YES Have you ever heard it? Uh…I really have no idea now. :shrugs: ---
**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 12, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3207 "2018-06-12T14:39:46Z")
Is the string attached to a toy? ---
**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 12, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3208 "2018-06-12T15:36:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is the string attached to a toy? Yes ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3209 "2018-06-12T19:10:28Z")
This is an illogical leap, but is it related to the _Toy Story_ franchise somehow? (I would argue the toys are alive, and there’s string-pulling going on, although I can’t make sense of the whole thing yet.) ---
**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 12, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3210 "2018-06-12T19:25:56Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > This is an illogical leap, but is it related to the _Toy Story_ franchise somehow? (I would argue the toys are alive, and there’s string-pulling going on, although I can’t make sense of the whole thing yet.) Yes. ---
**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 13, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3211 "2018-06-13T16:07:25Z")
It’s not solved, by the way. That Toy Story connection was cool, but it isn’t solved. ---
**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 13, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3212 "2018-06-13T16:21:40Z")
Is the string attached to Woody? Jesse? Did Woody say one of his catchphrases? or Jesse? Was this on a late night show? Other talk show? Was the guest holding a Woody doll? Was the brother holding a Woody doll? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3213 "2018-06-13T16:57:40Z")
Is it the Buzz Lightyear advert shown in Toy 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 13, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3214 "2018-06-13T19:50:47Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Is the string attached to Woody? YES > Jesse? NO > Did Woody say one of his catchphrases? YES > or Jesse? NO > Was this on a late night show? YES > Other talk show? NO > Was the guest holding a Woody doll? NO > Was the brother holding a Woody doll? NO > [@Quartz](#): > > Is it the Buzz Lightyear advert shown in Toy Story? No. ---
**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 13, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3215 "2018-06-13T19:58:33Z")
Was the host holding the woody doll? Did the host pull the string? Was the guest Tom Hanks? Was the guest the brother of Tom Hanks? ---
**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 13, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3216 "2018-06-13T21:59:32Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Was the host holding the woody doll? Yes > Did the host pull the string? Yes > Was the guest Tom Hanks? Yes > Was the guest the brother of Tom Hanks? No OK, so we have it all but put together. Without cheating by Googling, can you all figure out the situation? ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3217 "2018-06-13T22:30:59Z")
OK. So here is the original: Someone pulls a string following which his guest’s brother speaks to millions. Explain the situation. We now know: The host of a late night show pulls the string of a Woody doll. The guest is Tom Hanks. However, Tom Hanks’s brother speaks to millions. But his brother is not a guest. So… the voice coming out of the Woody doll is actually the voice of Tom Hanks’s brother? Is this a big reveal by the host or by Tom Hanks? Is the host ribbing Tom? Or is it a controversy? ---
**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 13, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3218 "2018-06-13T23:03:10Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > OK. > So here is the original: > Someone pulls a string following which his guest’s brother speaks to millions. Explain the situation. > > We now know: > The host of a late night show pulls the string of a Woody doll. The guest is Tom Hanks. However, Tom Hanks’s brother speaks to millions. But his brother is not a guest. > > So… the voice coming out of the Woody doll is actually the voice of Tom Hanks’s brother? > > Is this a big reveal by the host or by Tom Hanks? Is the host ribbing Tom? Or is it a controversy? Yep, that’s about it. Some might know this, but a lot of people don’t. Woody is voiced by Jim Hanks except in the movies and a couple TV specials. Video games, toys, etc. are all voiced by Jim Hanks. [Graham Norton was the host, Tom Hanks was the guest, and Tom confirmed that it is his brother who voices Woody for toys like that.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNptl7bjRhI) ---
**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 13, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3219 "2018-06-13T23:31:57Z")
Credit goes to snoe. It was just a logical progression after the jump to toy 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 20, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3220 "2018-06-20T18:55:45Z")
Here is a situation I heard about recently: One little piece of paperwork ended up costing over $100,000 dollars. In the end, it didn’t even turn out all that great. What was it? ---
**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 21, 2018, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3221 "2018-06-21T06:45:19Z")
Did a private person have to pay $100+K? A business? A government agency? Was it a pre-printed form? A ticket or stub? Origami? Some other artistic work? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=160) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=162)