# 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:** 36
**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 21, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/701 "2017-07-21T13:22:32Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > 1. Are all of the pets vertebrates? > > 2. Are some of the pets mammals? > > 3. Are some of the pets birds? > > 4. Are some of the pets reptiles? > > 5. Are some of the pets amphibians? 1. Yes 2. No 3. Yes 4. No 5. 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:** [July 21, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/702 "2017-07-21T13:27:14Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > 1. Was she angry at the people she unfriended? > > 2. Was selling the jewelry some kind of protest? (eg, getting rid of diamonds, but not limited to that) > > 3. Did the woman live in the US when this occurred? > > 4. Is the fruit typically consumed in its raw form, like an apple? > > 5. Is the fruit (defining it loosely) typically consumed as an ingredient, like coconut? > > 6. Is the fruit typically consumed as a juice, like cranberries? > > 7. Did selling he jewelry bring in a substantial amount of money? 1. Rephrase question please 2.No. 2. Non relevant 3. Yes 4. No 5. No 6. I am not sure ---
**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 21, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/703 "2017-07-21T13:35:48Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think we need to narrow down the fruit and the pets. I’ll try the fruit. > > 1. Does the fruit have “berry” in its name?\* > 2. Is it citrus? > 3. Is it most commonly grown in tropical countries? > 4. Does it have a stone? > 5. Is the peel or outer coating commonly removed before eating? > 6. Does it grow on trees? > 7. Does it grown on vines? > > That’s enough for now. 1. No 2. No. 3. No 4. No 5. Frequently 6. Yes 7. No > [@Quartz](#): > > Is the fruit related to a particular American state? > Are the pets related to a particular American state? > Does the woman have the name of an American state? (Including pre-Civil War.) All no > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Does the logic of her actions only make sense to her? > > I ask because this sounds like a typical FB meltdown. I understand her actions and the reasons for them. Not agreeing with her, mind you. And if the answer sounds like a typical FB meltdown… well remember this riddle started as a response to a comment about how many of these puzzles dealt with dated concepts! ---
**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 21, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/704 "2017-07-21T13:38:53Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > 1. Was she angry at the people she unfriended? > > 2. Was selling the jewelry some kind of protest? (eg, getting rid of diamonds, but not limited to that) > > 3. Did the woman live in the US when this occurred? > > 4. Is the fruit typically consumed in its raw form, like an apple? > > 5. Is the fruit (defining it loosely) typically consumed as an ingredient, like coconut? > > 6. Is the fruit typically consumed as a juice, like cranberries? > > 7. Did selling he jewelry bring in a substantial amount of money? On numbers 5 and 6, people do consume the fruit that way, just not most commonly. ---
**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 21, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/705 "2017-07-21T13:48:32Z")
Is the fruit’s skin typically red? Is the fruit’s skin typically orange? Is the fruit’s skin typically yellow? Is the fruit’s skin typically green? Is the fruit’s skin typically purple? Is the fruit’s skin typically brown? Is the fruit’s edible part typically red? Is the fruit’s edible part typically orange? Is the fruit’s edible part typically yellow? Is the fruit’s edible part typically green? Is the fruit’s edible part typically purple? Is the fruit’s edible part typically brown? ---
**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 21, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/706 "2017-07-21T14:03:54Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is the fruit’s skin typically red? > > Is the fruit’s skin typically orange? > > Is the fruit’s skin typically yellow? > > Is the fruit’s skin typically green? > > Is the fruit’s skin typically purple? > > Is the fruit’s skin typically brown? > > Is the fruit’s edible part typically red? > > Is the fruit’s edible part typically orange? > > Is the fruit’s edible part typically yellow? > > Is the fruit’s edible part typically green? > > Is the fruit’s edible part typically purple? > > Is the fruit’s edible part typically brown? Okay. I am going to think of “typically” to mean as not uncommon. Example: Grapes commonly are red, green, blue or black. So I would answer yes to all those those. Yes to red, green, yellow, brown No to orange, purple Part 2: I don’t think of the fruit flesh as any of those colors. Nowadays with all the varieties of fruit available, it is hard to pin down colors. Heck, even bananas are red and raspberries gold. ---
**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 21, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/707 "2017-07-21T14:06:08Z")
Is it apples? ---
**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 21, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/708 "2017-07-21T14:07:00Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it apples? No. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/709 "2017-07-21T14:17:03Z")
So, the woman released a number of pet birds. Some questions: 1. Is the species relevant to the solution of the puzzle? 2. Did she acquire/breed the birds with the intent to release them later? 3. Is releasing the birds part of some destructive plan, like transmitting disease, destroying crops or carrying incendiary bombs? 4. Is there an obvious connection between the birds and the kind of fruit? ---
**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 21, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/710 "2017-07-21T14:27:21Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > So, the woman released a number of pet birds. Some questions: > > 1. Is the species relevant to the solution of the puzzle? > > 2. Did she acquire/breed the birds with the intent to release them later? > > 3. Is releasing the birds part of some destructive plan, like transmitting disease, destroying crops or carrying incendiary bombs? > > 4. Is there an obvious connection between the birds and the kind of fruit? 1. Yes 2. No 3. No 4. Yes ---
**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 21, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/711 "2017-07-21T14:48:14Z")
I am off to work again. I am betting someone posts the right solution before I log back on at lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/712 "2017-07-21T15:01:23Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > 1. Is there an obvious connection between the birds and the kind of fruit? > [@Biotop](#): > > 1. Yes Is the bird/fruit a kiwi? ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/713 "2017-07-21T15:02:23Z")
Do the bird species and fruit species share a name, such as kiwi? Was the woman told to do something, or warned against something, by a “mysterious voice,” a religious mystic, or a fortuneteller or some such? ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/714 "2017-07-21T15:03:42Z")
Great minds run in the same (New Zealand) gutter! ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/715 "2017-07-21T15:14:17Z")
1. Is the fruit pears? You said to rephrase this question: “Was she angry at the people she unfriended?” 1. Did she unfriend people? 2. Was she angry? 3. Did she unfriend people due to her anger? ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/716 "2017-07-21T15:18:29Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > I am off to work again. I am betting someone posts the right solution before I log back on at lunch. Won’t be me. ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/717 "2017-07-21T15:32:22Z")
Recap: A woman unfriends 51 people on Facebook, sells her jewelry on ebay and releases a number of pet animals into the wild. She also swears off a certain kind of fruit. Why? -There’s no wordplay involved. -She knows all these friends through the same time of her life and the same activity. It ain’t religion. -The animals are birds, and we need to figure out the species. (DO we know if they’re all the same species?) -The fruit grows on trees, but not typically in the tropics and is not citrus. It has no stone and is not a berry, and its skin is red, green, yellow, or brown. Its skin is frequently removed before eating. Its flesh is not red, orange, yellow, green (so not kiwi), purple, or brown (but nobody asked about white). -There’s an obvious connection between the bird and the kind of fruit. It’s hard for me to think of a fruit that matches those clues that’s not a pear–unless it’s something weird like a pawpaw. And the only connection I can think of between a pear and a bird is either: 1. Is there something about that syllable–like the bird is a parrot or a parakeet? 2. Is “The Twelve Days of Christmas” implicated? ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/718 "2017-07-21T15:37:01Z")
Ooh, leaning toward 12 days of Christmas. She received friend requests from: 12 Drummers Drumming Eleven Pipers Piping Ten Lords a Leaping Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a Milking That’s 50 people. Add the joker who sent her all these friend requests, and that’s 51. She’s not angry at the people, she’s angry at the person who sent it. She also sells on ebay: Five Golden Rings In addition, she releases: Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge Finally, she swears off everything that comes from: A pear tree. ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/719 "2017-07-21T15:44:33Z")
LHoD, I think you may be on to something. My brain never would have gone there. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/720 "2017-07-21T17:33:19Z")
Niiiiice 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=37)