# 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:** 27
**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/521 "2017-07-18T05:16:52Z")
1. Was the room sealed perfectly, and did he suffocate when he ran out of oxygen? 2. Was the poison gas referred to above exhaled CO2? 3. Was there some fire or other method used to remove oxygen from the room? ---
**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 18, 2017, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/522 "2017-07-18T05:28:02Z")
There seems to be some emphasis on the “excellent” lock. What’s that all about, I wonder? We are told the victim did not take anything into the room that killed him. Something was pumped in, though the “yes” on that question seemed qualified. We are told the house belonged to “mutual friends,” so the killer likely had access or at least knew the layout. Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/523 "2017-07-18T05:29:45Z")
1. Was this in an area where fireworks or other loud noises are traditional on New Year’s Eve/Day? 2. Were noises made in the room that went unheard due to said traditional noise? ---
**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 18, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/524 "2017-07-18T05:33:18Z")
We are told the victim locked the door before retiring for the evening. Had anyone else been with the victim in the room before he retired? ---
**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, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/525 "2017-07-18T11:30:03Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > My recap, which could be wrong. Please check. > > On New Year’s Eve, which is relevant, a poisonous gas was pumped into a locked room and killed a guy. His lover, who was not there, did it(or arranged it). Yes. > [@Biotop](#): > > Would anyone else who had been in the room also have died? > > Was the victim poisoned at midnight? 1. Yes 2. Unknown > [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](#): > > 1. Was the room sealed perfectly, and did he suffocate when he ran out of oxygen? > 2. Was the poison gas referred to above exhaled CO2? > 3. Was there some fire or other method used to remove oxygen from the room? 1. No, and no. 1. No 2. No > [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](#): > > 1. Was this in an area where fireworks or other loud noises are traditional on New Year’s Eve/Day? > 2. Were noises made in the room that went unheard due to said traditional noise? 1. Unknown 2. No > [@Biotop](#): > > We are told the victim locked the door before retiring for the evening. > > Had anyone else been with the victim in the room before he retired? No ---
**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 18, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/526 "2017-07-18T12:05:48Z")
Was the excellent lock disabled by a more excellent lockpicker? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2017, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/527 "2017-07-18T12:16:01Z")
Was it obvious to the hosts what had happened? Could someone commit suicide using this method? ---
**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, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/528 "2017-07-18T12:16:05Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Was the excellent lock disabled by a more excellent lockpicker? No. ---
**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 18, 2017, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/529 "2017-07-18T12:49:26Z")
1. Was the gas pumped through the air ducts into his room? 2. Is the poison gas carbon monoxide? 3. Did the lover ever visit this house to set up the murder? ---
**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 18, 2017, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/530 "2017-07-18T12:50:52Z")
Did the victim suffer from a breathing condition such as asthma? ---
**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 18, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/531 "2017-07-18T12:57:53Z")
Does the composition of the poisonous gas matter at all? Was there a fire in the fireplace? Was the poisonous gas released by burning? Was a clock involved in the killing? (note: I mean the actual device, not time as measured by a clock) ---
**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, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/532 "2017-07-18T13:25:50Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > Was it obvious to the hosts what had happened? > Could someone commit suicide using this method? 1. No 2. Yes, although unlikely > [@Mahaloth](#): > > 1. Was the gas pumped through the air ducts into his room? > > 2. Is the poison gas carbon monoxide? > > 3. Did the lover ever visit this house to set up the murder? 1. No 2. Possibly in part, depending on when the story is set. 3. Yes > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Did the victim suffer from a breathing condition such as asthma? No > [@Chronos](#): > > Does the composition of the poisonous gas matter at all? > Was there a fire in the fireplace? > Was the poisonous gas released by burning? > Was a clock involved in the killing? (note: I mean the actual device, not time as measured by a clock) 1. Yes 2. Yes 3. No 4. No ---
**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 18, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/533 "2017-07-18T13:49:58Z")
1. Was there a frozen block of bleach in the room? 2. Was there a frozen block of ammonia in the room? 3. If yes to 1 and 2, did they thaw create a deadly gas? (Like, if they were in the same bucket, or something.) ---
**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, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/534 "2017-07-18T13:50:41Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > 1. Was there a frozen block of bleach in the room? > > 2. Was there a frozen block of ammonia in the room? > > 3. If yes to 1 and 2, did they thaw create a deadly gas? (Like, if they were in the same bucket, or something.) 1 No 2 No 3 No ---
**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 18, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/535 "2017-07-18T14:12:23Z")
This is a good one, by the way. These situations are what I love. 1. Is there something about New Year’s Eve celebrations that make the date significant? 2. Is the gas from an engine? 3. Is the gas from a stove? 4. Is that gas natural gas? 5. Is it important that you said "…I’m gonna say “yes.” when asked if gas was pumped in the room? ---
**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, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/536 "2017-07-18T14:24:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > This is a good one, by the way. These situations are what I love. I hope so. I worry I missed something in my research that someone smarter than me will know. Hopefully even if that happens folks will roll with it. > [@](#): > > 1. Is there something about New Year’s Eve celebrations that make the date significant? > > 2. Is the gas from an engine? > > 3. Is the gas from a stove? > > 4. Is that gas natural gas? > > 5. Is it important that you said "…I’m gonna say “yes.” when asked if gas was pumped in the room? 1. No 2. No 3. No 4. Possibly, depending on when the story is set. 5. Can we change the word “pumped in” to “introduced into”? Then I’ll just say “yes.” ---
**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 18, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/537 "2017-07-18T14:28:58Z")
Was the gas fireplace tampered with so the flow of gas wasn’t entirely cut off when he turned the fire off for the night? ---
**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, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/538 "2017-07-18T14:30:15Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Was the gas fireplace tampered with so the flow of gas wasn’t entirely cut off when he turned the fire off for the night? No, but getting close. ---
**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 18, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/539 "2017-07-18T14:30:43Z")
Did the victim unknowingly cause the gas to enter the room? ---
**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 18, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/540 "2017-07-18T14:33:30Z")
Was the gas produced by elements that combined when the victim was in the room? Did the victim bring anything in the room with him that he didn’t have before the NYE party? Did the victim bring anything in the room with him that he didn’t have before entering the friend’s house? Were there containers in the room such as jars, vases, bottles, etc? Was there anything attached to the door before the victim entered the death room? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=28)