# 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:** 182
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3622 "2019-06-13T21:32:46Z")
Are the people at the gathering all fans of a particular T.V. show? Are they fans of a particular movie? Are they fans of a particular video game? Are they fans of something to do with music? Are they fans of a particular book? Is this about _Hamilton_ (the musical)? Is this about Game of Thrones? Does the form of entertainment that connects the group involve politics? ---
**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 13, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3623 "2019-06-13T22:01:09Z")
\*\*reply to SpoilerVirgin \*\* Are the people at the gathering all fans of a particular T.V. show? \*\*Yes \*\* Are they fans of a particular movie? \*\*No \*\* Are they fans of a particular video game? \*\*No \*\* Are they fans of something to do with music? \*\*No \*\* Are they fans of a particular book? \*\*No \*\* Is this about _Hamilton_ (the musical)? \*\*No \*\* Is this about Game of Thrones? \*\*No \*\* Does the form of entertainment that connects the group involve politics? \*\*No \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3624 "2019-06-13T22:24:13Z")
Did the reason you were asked to leave have anything to do with spoilers? Did the ethics question have to do with something that took place within a T.V. show (i.e. the question had to do with the show content, rather than with external factors such as when the show aired, how it was produced, etc.)? Is the show fictional? ---
**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 13, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3625 "2019-06-13T22:59:12Z")
Is it the Star Trek franchise? Did you ask which is the best series? The best captain? ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3626 "2019-06-14T01:58:05Z")
\*\*reply to SpoilerVirgin \*\* Did the reason you were asked to leave have anything to do with spoilers? \*\*No \*\* Did the ethics question have to do with something that took place within a T.V. show (i.e. the question had to do with the show content, rather than with external factors such as when the show aired, how it was produced, etc.)? \*\*Yes \*\* Is the show fictional? \*\*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:** [June 14, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3627 "2019-06-14T01:59:07Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it the Star Trek franchise? > > Did you ask which is the best series? The best captain? \*\*No to all \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3628 "2019-06-14T03:00:25Z")
Is the show a competitive reality show (Survivor, etc.)? Is the show a candid reality show (Real Housewives, etc.)? Is the show a news show? Is the show a talk show? Are you a fan of the show? Are you connected in any way with the production of the show? Have you ever appeared on the show? ---
**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 14, 2019, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3629 "2019-06-14T03:18:29Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** Is the show a competitive reality show (Survivor, etc.)? **No** Is the show a candid reality show (Real Housewives, etc.) **No** Is the show a news show? **No** Is the show a talk show? **No** Are you a fan of the show? **No** Are you connected in any way with the production of the show? **No** Have you ever appeared on the show? **Yes** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3630 "2019-06-14T04:04:03Z")
Is the show a game show? Is the show a how to show (cooking, interior design, home improvement, etc.)? Is the show a documentary series (American Greed, Nova, etc.)? Did the ethical question involve something you did or said on the show? Something you were asked to do or say? ---
**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 14, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3631 "2019-06-14T05:32:42Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** Is the show a game show? **Yes** Is the show a how to show (cooking, interior design, home improvement, etc.)? **No** Is the show a documentary series (American Greed, Nova, etc.)? **No** Did the ethical question involve something you did or said on the show? **No** Something you were asked to do or say? **No** ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3632 "2019-06-14T08:23:39Z")
Were you on Jeopardy! ? Did you ask a correct question, about Virginia politics, for which the answer was on the board? Did you ask an incorrect question about ethics in final Jeopardy, and you lost, and therefore were told to leave? ---
**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 14, 2019, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3633 "2019-06-14T12:57:16Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > Were you on Jeopardy! ? > > Did you ask a correct question, about Virginia politics, for which the answer was on the board? > > Did you ask an incorrect question about ethics in final Jeopardy, and you lost, and therefore were told to leave? **You got it!** I asked a question that everyone knew the answer, because it was already on the board (Catagory: Virginia Politics). My Question: Who was James Madison? But when the topic of Ethics came up in Final Jeopardy, I didn’t know the question for “The author of 1861’s _Utalitarianism_” so I asked “Who was Bertram Smith” a name I remembered somewhere from college instead of “Who was John Stuart Mill?” I had bet too much and I lost and was sent home and could not come back, just as happens to everyone who loses. ++++ Later I got to thinking that a better version of this puzzle might be: \*\*A man is invited to join a group because they think he will fit in well. He does and visits many times becoming quite popular at the gatherings. But one day while attending a gathering he makes the mistake of asking a question about the FedEx Company. This is NOT okay, and he is sent away and told not to come back anymore. How had he offended? \*\* This would of course refer to Ken Jennings, whose question “What is FedEx?” was the question he asked incorrectly on his last game in Final Jeopardy, ending his famous run. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3634 "2019-06-14T15:23:49Z")
I think the original version is better that the Ken Jennings specific one. I may post one later, but I won’t have much time to check in and answer questions. Anyone else have one? ---
**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 14, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3635 "2019-06-14T17:21:51Z")
I think we all used up our backlogs of good ones back when this thread was first active. If you’ve got one, just jump in. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3636 "2019-06-14T19:24:41Z")
A woman had a conundrum also faced by countless others that day. End it. At first she thought the solution was suicide, but she couldn’t do it. Then she remembered that it was Thursday. Whistling the tune of The Beatles debut single, she knew the answer. Shut down. What was the situation? ---
**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 15, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3637 "2019-06-15T00:05:11Z")
She was doing a word puzzle A crossword, or something similar. She had letters S-----E already filled in. She considered the word SUICIDE, but it didn’t fit. Then she thought of SOMEONE. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3638 "2019-06-15T02:10:58Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > She was doing a word puzzle A crossword, or something similar. **Yes** > > She had letters S-----E already filled in. **No** > > She considered the word SUICIDE, but it didn’t fit. **Yes** > > Then she thought of SOMEONE. **No** Answers in bold. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3639 "2019-06-15T03:37:41Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > A woman had a conundrum also faced by countless others that day. End it. At first she thought the solution was suicide, but she couldn’t do it. Then she remembered that it was Thursday. Whistling the tune of The Beatles debut single, she knew the answer. Shut down. > > What was the situation? Was she doing the New York Times crossword? Did the answer involve wordplay? (A pun? Abbreviation? Phonetic spelling?) ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3640 "2019-06-15T05:51:57Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Was she doing the New York Times crossword? **Yes** > > Did the answer involve wordplay? **No** > > (A pun? Abbreviation? Phonetic spelling?) **No** Answers in bold. ---
**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 15, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3641 "2019-06-15T18:23:53Z")
Does “Shut down” refer to one of the down clues in the crossword? Is “Yesterday” relevant to the answer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=181) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=183)