# 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:** 174
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3462 "2018-09-19T04:00:25Z")
Is the report that is available on eBay a map? Is it one of these other items I listed: a pamphlet, flyer, book, drawing, sheet music, calendar? Did the lie involve the location being part of a different state? Did the lie involve the location being part of a different county? Did the lie involve the location being part of a different city or town? ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3463 "2018-09-19T04:30:48Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** : Is the report that is available on eBay a map? **Yes** Is it one of these other items I listed: a pamphlet, flyer, book, drawing, sheet music, calendar? **No** Did the lie involve the location being part of a different state? **No** Did the lie involve the location being part of a different county? **No** Did the lie involve the location being part of a different city or town? **Yes. Well sort of…** ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3464 "2018-09-19T05:51:28Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > It would be interested to know how you googled it. You must have figured out the general nature of the lie to do so, right? Not really- I guessed the profession of Otto and Ernest, which is enough for Google to lead you to the right answer. ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3465 "2018-09-19T11:57:50Z")
I have a few of these to contribute, so let me reserve the next spot now. Happy for discussion of this one to wait until **Biotop’s** puzzle is resolved: - Once to the willow-tree A maid came fearful, Pale seemed her cheek to be, Her blue eye tearful; Soon as she saw the tree, Her step moved fleeter, No one was there—ah me! No one to meet her!\* (from _The Willow Tree_, by William Makepeace Thackeray) I came across this poem a while back. By a curious coincidence, I recently noticed that I have an object in my house that has ‘I am a willow tree’ written on it, for an entirely different reason. What is the object? ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3466 "2018-09-19T14:14:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Did an oil company put out a report claiming they got their oil from the USA, but were really getting it from Canada? And then…it turned out later the land(off shore perhaps) was actually in USA territory? > > Or vice versa, switching Canada and US? Still asking. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3467 "2018-09-19T14:19:44Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Still asking. \*\*Sorry. Missed that one. No. Source of oil is not the issue. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3468 "2018-09-19T15:25:40Z")
Was the map originally available for use by the public as part of a contest? …for use just generally to know the area? …for use to identify a specific location or attraction? …for some other use unrelated to the specific information shown on the map? ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3469 "2018-09-19T15:31:16Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** : Was the map originally available for use by the public as part of a contest? **No** …for use just generally to know the area? **Yes** …for use to identify a specific location or attraction? **Yes. But it was not for just one specific location or attraction.** …for some other use unrelated to the specific information shown on the map? **No** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3470 "2018-09-19T15:42:33Z")
Was what the map identified something that we would typically associate with oil companies? With oil companies today? With oil companies in the 1930’s? Since it seems the profession of Ernst and Otto is key to the puzzle: Would Ernst and Otto be considered blue color workers (physical labor)? Would Ernst and Otto be considered white color workers (little physical labor)? Does Ernst and Otto’s profession typically require a college degree? An advanced or professional degree? ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3471 "2018-09-19T16:30:32Z")
I can not wait to find out the answer. I am trying to think of every angle, but can not get my head wrapped around this one. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3472 "2018-09-19T18:39:12Z")
Was the map a road map? Was it to get people driving more, using more gas? ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3473 "2018-09-19T23:41:22Z")
Were Otto and Ernest: - royalty? - in government? - inspectors of any kind? - extortionists? - criminals? - pirates? - both in the same job? - lawyers? - doctors? - cartographers? ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3474 "2018-09-20T01:09:08Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** : Was what the map identified something that we would typically associate with oil companies? **No** With oil companies today? **No** With oil companies in the 1930’s? **No** Since it seems the profession of Ernst and Otto is key to the puzzle: Would Ernst and Otto be considered blue color workers (physical labor)? **No** Would Ernst and Otto be considered white color workers (little physical labor)? **Yes** Does Ernst and Otto’s profession typically require a college degree? An advanced or professional degree? \*\*Not sure. Certainly training and skill are necessary. \*\* ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3475 "2018-09-20T01:11:09Z")
**reply to Regallag\_The\_Axe** : Was the map a road map? **Yes** Was it to get people driving more, using more gas? **No** ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3476 "2018-09-20T01:14:11Z")
**reply to Mahaloth** : Were Otto and Ernest: - royalty? **No** - in government? **No** - inspectors of any kind? **No** - extortionists? **No** - criminals? **No** - pirates? **No** - both in the same job? **Yes** - lawyers? **No** - doctors? **No** - cartographers? **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:** [September 20, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3477 "2018-09-20T01:31:05Z")
I’m going to wager a guess of sorts, though I don’t think my guess answers everything. Your puzzle said, “what is the lie?” that they told. Otto and Ernest were cartographers. They created a fake location for copyright purposes. Later…it turned out their location existed, maybe when they called someone out on their map having the fake location. I have heard of fake-location copyrighting. I have ZERO idea how this connects to an oil company in anyway. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3478 "2018-09-20T01:56:10Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’m going to wager a guess of sorts, though I don’t think my guess answers everything. Your puzzle said, “what is the lie?” that they told. > > Otto and Ernest were cartographers. They created a fake location for copyright purposes. Later…it turned out their location existed, maybe when they called someone out on their map having the fake location. > I have heard of fake-location copyrighting. I have ZERO idea how this connects to an oil company in anyway. **Solved! Good job Mahaloth and all! A fine effort indeed.** [Story Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agloe,_New_York) or [Here.](https://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/welcome-to-the-agloe-general-store-come-back-soon) Back in the the day, before Barnes & Noble, before Google, and before GPS people got their roadmaps free from the gas station. Esso hired Ernest and Otto to research and make their map of New York. In doing so they created the Town of Agloe in the Catskills. It was a fake name for an otherwise nameless crossroads in the Catskill mountains. But then some folks decided to open a General Store there. They had their map which identified that intersection as Agloe, so they opened the Agloe General Store. Later a couple of other businesses were there, and Delaware County was recognizing the intersection as Agloe. Sometime in the fifties, Ernest and Otto saw their fake name on a map from rival Rand McNalley. They assumed copyright theft, a serious crime. But Rand McNalley was able to show that their researchers had come by their information legitimately. The Agloe General Store’s existence proved it. The lawsuit was dropped. Agloe does exist anymore except as a sign for the store. Proof that a made-up town later came to exist, if only for a while. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3479 "2018-09-20T02:04:19Z")
[Another account here.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2014/03/18/290236647/an-imaginary-town-becomes-real-then-not-true-story&ved=2ahUKEwjRrevBvcjdAhUkmeAKHUX7AScQFjARegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2S6fZl_yasU4NEOniWI9MG) I was trying to come up with a lateral thinking puzzle about [Beatosu and Goblu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatosu_and_Goblu), when I stumbled upon the Agloe story, which I thought was a lot of fun. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3480 "2018-09-20T02:29:41Z")
That was great, but man, was I thrown by the oil company part. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3481 "2018-09-20T02:42:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > That was great, but man, was I thrown by the oil company part. But that’s the thing. Most road maps came from the oil company gas stations at that time. If you look at vintage maps from the that era they all have the Oil Company name in big letters on the cover. Free road maps simply came from the gas station. No need to buy one. They were in everyone’s glove compartment. While I knew the oil company clue would likely lead the solver astray, it might have also gotten someone to laterally think of a roadmap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=173) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=175)