# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/21 "2017-07-09T22:00:39Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > When London was bombed during the blitz in World War II, St. Paul’s Cathedral, in the center of the city, was never hit. Why not? According to the Wiki article on the cathedral ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St\_Paul%27s\_Cathedral#War\_damage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral#War_damage)), it was hit three times. Though the first bomb was successfully defused and didn’t cause damage, the other two did cause significant damage. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/22 "2017-07-09T22:29:16Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > When London was bombed during the blitz in World War II, St. Paul’s Cathedral, in the center of the city, was never hit. Why not? because … [it burned down in 1666?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_St_Paul%27s_Cathedral) Or some similar word game involving a different st Paul’s. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/23 "2017-07-09T23:18:06Z")
OK, the puzzle book I took that one from said that the Cathedral was such an obvious site, it was used by the Germans as a reference marker, and so was avoided. Since Giles has effectively refuted this, he gets the next turn. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/24 "2017-07-09T23:32:20Z")
OK, continuing with the London theme. My last job was in the city of Dublin, and I knew of people who lived in the city of London and worked in Dublin, with a commuting time of about 30 minutes. How is this possible? ---
**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:** [July 9, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/25 "2017-07-09T23:57:31Z")
Clearly not London, England and Dublin, Ireland. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/26 "2017-07-10T00:11:57Z")
[London, Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London,_Kentucky)and [Dublin, Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin,_Kentucky)are not close together. I’m going to guess [London, Ohio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London,_Ohio)and [Dublin, Ohio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin,_Ohio). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/27 "2017-07-10T00:20:58Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’m going to guess [London, Ohio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London,_Ohio)and [Dublin, Ohio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin,_Ohio). Correct! (It’s about a 30-minute drive – with the shortest route by distance mostly along route 42!) ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/28 "2017-07-10T00:32:55Z")
Not that I expect that this will take any longer than the others… A man is dead in the middle of a field, with an unopened package. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/29 "2017-07-10T00:51:59Z")
Not the answer at all, but for fans of the movie _Cast Away_: It’s the revenge of Wilson! ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/30 "2017-07-10T00:58:44Z")
After their latest heist, Bonnie and Clyde hid out in a farmhouse. They’ve got the farmer and his family tied up in the cellar. Next day the mailman came to deliver a package to the farmer. Clyde thought he was a cop, and shot him. This may not be the answer you were expecting, but it fits. It’s as right as the official one. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/31 "2017-07-10T01:10:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Not that I expect that this will take any longer than the others… > > A man is dead in the middle of a field, with an unopened package. How about adding “He knew when and how he was going to die,” and noting that the unopened package is a necessary clue. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/32 "2017-07-10T01:34:43Z")
His parachute didn’t open. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/33 "2017-07-10T02:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Peter Morris** : > > This may not be the answer you were expecting, but it fits. It’s as right as the official one. Not the way these puzzles work. If it were, then “the man had a heart attack in a bike shop” would have worked for the first one. EDIT: Oh, and **SCAdian** got it. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/34 "2017-07-10T04:03:46Z")
I assume we are not looking up the answers to these online. Mine here is easily googleable. Also, if you know the answer, you should sit out, no? Mine: A lady lives in the 15th floor of a pretty tall apartment building. In the mornings, she takes the elevator all the way down to the ground floor and goes to work. When she leaves work, she returns back to the apartment building and uses the elevator again. If she is alone, she rides the elevator the 7th floor, then gets out and uses the stairs. If another person is in the elevator, she just rides it back to the 15th floor. If it rains, she always rides it back all the way up to the 15th floor. Why does she have such odd elevator habits/behavior? ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/35 "2017-07-10T05:58:45Z")
I know yours, **Mahaloth** , so I will let others try and get it. ☆☆☆☆☆ I was sitting here on my couch when I thought of a true bicycle conundrum. It does not involve playing cards, but the facts are thus: On the table next to my couch are several things, including multiple parts of a bicycle. Neither my wife nor I ride a bicycle. We have no children. We have no interest in ever riding a bicycle. Yet, I bought the parts. I have no intention of giving them to anyone. Why are they there? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/36 "2017-07-10T09:33:09Z")
You’re into unicycling, not bicycling, ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/37 "2017-07-10T10:43:11Z")
The handlebar grips could be used as grips on other objects, such as a walking stick. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/38 "2017-07-10T11:02:56Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I assume we are not looking up the answers to these online. Mine here is easily googleable. Also, if you know the answer, you should sit out, no? > > Mine: > > A lady lives in the 15th floor of a pretty tall apartment building. In the mornings, she takes the elevator all the way down to the ground floor and goes to work. When she leaves work, she returns back to the apartment building and uses the elevator again. If she is alone, she rides the elevator the 7th floor, then gets out and uses the stairs. If another person is in the elevator, she just rides it back to the 15th floor. > > If it rains, she always rides it back all the way up to the 15th floor. > > Why does she have such odd elevator habits/behavior? She is very short and can only reach as high as the button for the 7th floor. If she’s with someone she gets them to push 15 and when it’s raining she has an umbrella and uses it to push 15. Why she doesn’t carry an umbrella all the time I can’t say. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/39 "2017-07-10T13:43:47Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > You’re into unicycling, not bicycling, No. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The handlebar grips could be used as grips on other objects, such as a walking stick. ? > [@Princhester](#): > > She is very short and can only reach as high as the button for the 7th floor. If she’s with someone she gets them to push 15 and when it’s raining she has an umbrella and uses it to push 15. > > Why she doesn’t carry an umbrella all the time I can’t say. Yep, she’s a little person. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/40 "2017-07-10T14:58:13Z")
Does anyone have a new one? One that is not easily googleable? I loved these in middle school(1990) and would love to have a new one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=3)