# 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:** 25
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/481 "2017-07-17T16:27:35Z")
Does the pilot realize polar bears are in the area, but can’t see any because of white-on-white? (even though he saw the hiker) ---
**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 17, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/482 "2017-07-17T16:30:23Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Does the pilot realize polar bears are in the area, but can’t see any because of white-on-white? (even though he saw the hiker) No. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/483 "2017-07-17T16:32:50Z")
1. Are the animals wolves? 2. Would the hiker be in the same trouble with a different-color outfit? 3. Would the pilot recognize the hiker’s trouble with a different-color outfit? 4. Did the hiker get on the trail with the intention of taking a recreational hike? ---
**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 17, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/484 "2017-07-17T16:40:08Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. Are the animals wolves? > 2. Would the hiker be in the same trouble with a different-color outfit? > 3. Would the pilot recognize the hiker’s trouble with a different-color outfit? > 4. Did the hiker get on the trail with the intention of taking a recreational hike? All yes. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/485 "2017-07-17T17:23:11Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > All yes. So, I’m a little confused: > [@](#): > > One afternoon the pilot of a small plane . . . notices a single hiker below him with a white pack and dressed completely in white clothing. The man is carrying two white hiking poles and travelling a known trail through an open field that is blanketed in snow. The hiker does not signal distress and is not far from a village. … the pilot sees nothing else alarming But the pilot also sees wild wolves endangering the hiker. 1. Am I misunderstanding things? The question was, “How did the pilot know the hiker was in danger?” and it seems to me that the pilot knows this because of the wild wolves endangering the hiker. 1. Is that how the pilot knew the hiker was in danger? 2. In my quote above, did I ellipsis some key information? (I tried not to). 3. Is there any word in the original clue that comprises wordplay? ---
**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 17, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/486 "2017-07-17T17:29:43Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > So, I’m a little confused: > > But the pilot also sees wild wolves endangering the hiker. > > 1. Am I misunderstanding things? > > The question was, “How did the pilot know the hiker was in danger?” and it seems to me that the pilot knows this because of the wild wolves endangering the hiker. > > 1. Is that how the pilot knew the hiker was in danger? > > 2. In my quote above, did I ellipsis some key information? (I tried not to). > > 3. Is there any word in the original clue that comprises wordplay? 1. No you are not misunderstanding. Yes that is how the pilot knew the danger 2.Yes. 2. No. 3. … ---
**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:** [July 17, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/487 "2017-07-17T17:35:28Z")
Ah, the white pack is ‘a white pack of wolves’. ---
**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 17, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/488 "2017-07-17T17:43:40Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Ah, the white pack is ‘a white pack of wolves’. Yes. You got it. A pack of Arctic wolves. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/489 "2017-07-17T17:49:31Z")
Sigh… gotta watch for those double meanings. ---
**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 17, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/490 "2017-07-17T18:07:20Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > This is more of a challenge than a riddle. There isn’t a single right or wrong answer, but better or worse suggestions. > > Find an English language sentence with the greatest proportion of apostrophes to letters. > I’ve got a good one in mind, but can anyone do better? Any takers? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/491 "2017-07-17T19:04:08Z")
Doesn’t really fit the nature of the OP’s intentions, but maybe it wouldn’t be bad for somebody else’s '16 or '17 thread; that’s seven. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/492 "2017-07-17T19:17:25Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Any takers? I think I know one person who is going to try it. I’m. ---
**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 17, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/493 "2017-07-17T21:08:43Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Any takers? Tell us yours to give us an idea of what is good. ---
**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 17, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/494 "2017-07-17T22:08:18Z")
A man is found dead in a room, hanging from a noose attached to the light fixture. The room is locked from the inside, and the man’s feet are four feet above the floor. There are no other objects in the room. How did this happen? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/495 "2017-07-17T22:20:15Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Any takers? It’d prob’ly ha’e fo’c’s’l’ in’t. ---
**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 17, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/496 "2017-07-17T23:01:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A man is found dead in a room, hanging from a noose attached to the light fixture. The room is locked from the inside, and the man’s feet are four feet above the floor. There are no other objects in the room. How did this happen? 1. Was it suicide? 2. Is he hanging by his neck with his feet dangling below? 3. Was anyone in the room as he was dying or when he died? ---
**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:** [July 17, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/497 "2017-07-17T23:06:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A man is found dead in a room, hanging from a noose attached to the light fixture. The room is locked from the inside, and the man’s feet are four feet above the floor. There are no other objects in the room. How did this happen? He was standing on a block of ice or CO2 or other substance that evaporates. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/498 "2017-07-17T23:19:57Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ah, I guess it was too easy. A lip-reader specifically. The two men were discussing her and wondering about who she is and what she does. > > Never mind! > [@Quartz](#): > > He was standing on a block of ice or CO2 or other substance that evaporates. I think that was an Encyclopedia Brown case. ---
**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 17, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/499 "2017-07-17T23:34:44Z")
Yeah, I never said it was original. **Quartz** got it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/500 "2017-07-18T00:03:02Z")
Another howdunit: some years ago on New Year’s Eve, a man fled a jealous lover and was put up for the night in the guest chamber of a set of mutual friends. It was the nicest room in the house, and featured among other things a very solid door with an excellent lock. The man locked the door before retiring for the evening. The next morning he didn’t come down to breakfast and didn’t answer increasingly frantic knocks at the door. When his hosts finally broke down the door, they found the man lying dead in bed. The windows remained whole and locked, and it was clear nobody had entered the room during the night. How did his lover murder him? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=26)