# 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:** 38
**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 24, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/741 "2017-07-24T02:52:42Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > 1. Is it relevant to the story that he is a sailor? > > 2. By sailor, do you mean a member of the Navy? > > 3. If no to 2, do you mean that he pilots sailboats as a civilian? > > 4. If no to 2 & 3, is he a merchant marine? > > 5. Is “taking a shower” to be understood as “washing oneself under a waterflow?” > > 6. If no to 5, did the people just get wet somehow? 1. No. Well maybe yes. If he wasn’t a sailor people might not have gotten wet. 2. Yes, at one time. 3. Yes. 4. Maybe at times 5. More like 6 6. See 5. But really more like 5 without the “washing.” ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/742 "2017-07-24T02:55:09Z")
1. Is the duck also famous? 2. So they went under a waterfall, or the buildings sprinklers were set off, something like that. ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/743 "2017-07-24T02:58:19Z")
1. Yes 2. 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 24, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/744 "2017-07-24T03:02:39Z")
1. Did these happen in two different cartoons five years apart? 2. Is the newspaper “report” a review of the cartoons? 3. Does “stuffing” the duck mean giving it a lot to eat? ---
**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 24, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/745 "2017-07-24T03:15:49Z")
1. No 2. No 3. No This is in response to the previous post ---
**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 24, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/746 "2017-07-24T03:27:48Z")
Are the people who got wet fictional? Is the sailor Popeye? Is the duck Donald? ---
**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 24, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/747 "2017-07-24T03:40:11Z")
No. Yes. Yes. I realize I only asked for the name of the sailor. But the circumstances need to be explained. This is a tale of two real events. Dang. I forgot to quote again. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/748 "2017-07-24T03:43:36Z")
Were Popeye and Daffy in the same comic? Were the people mimicking anything in the comic(s)? Did the comic(s) get wet (i.e., did they have it with them?) ---
**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 24, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/749 "2017-07-24T03:46:11Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Were Popeye and Daffy in the same comic? > Were the people mimicking anything in the comic(s)? > Did the comic(s) get wet (i.e., did they have it with them?) No. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/750 "2017-07-24T03:52:08Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > No. Oops. Quick clarification. Does this still hold if I replace comic with cartoon? ---
**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 24, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/751 "2017-07-24T03:57:42Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Oops. Quick clarification. Does this still hold if I replace comic with cartoon? No to comics No to cartoons ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/752 "2017-07-24T04:22:38Z")
Does “wet” actually refer to water or similar liquid? Are Daffy/Popeye boats or planes? Are Daffy/Popeye drawn on boats or planes? ---
**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 24, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/753 "2017-07-24T04:30:31Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Does “wet” actually refer to water or similar liquid? > Are Daffy/Popeye boats or planes? > Are Daffy/Popeye drawn on boats or planes? Water or similar liquid: Yes Boats, planes: No. Drawings on same: No I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable riding in a cartoon character plane! :eek: ---
**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 24, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/754 "2017-07-24T04:31:22Z")
Wait-- it’s Donald Duck, not Daffy Duck, right? 1. Did this happen at EuroDisney? ---
**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 24, 2017, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/755 "2017-07-24T04:48:30Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Wait-- it’s Donald Duck, not Daffy Duck, right? > > 1. Did this happen at EuroDisney? No. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/756 "2017-07-24T05:17:43Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Wait-- it’s Donald Duck, not Daffy Duck, right :smack: I presume changing Daffy to Donald doesn’t change any of my answers? Also, is the fact that both are sailors relevant? ---
**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 24, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/757 "2017-07-24T05:42:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > :smack: I presume changing Daffy to Donald doesn’t change any of my answers? > Also, is the fact that both are sailors relevant? First question: No. I knew who you meant. As to both being sailors: Yes. It turns out that both being sailors is quite relevant. ---
**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 24, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/758 "2017-07-24T13:16:12Z")
Making sure I understand: > [@recap](#): > > Because of Popeye, several people unhappily take an unexpected cold shower (i.e., they are drenched by cold water. 5 years pass and Popeye causes no more trouble. It’s the holiday season. He stuffs Donald Duck for a gathering of people. Alas,\* because of this\* and for pretty much the same reason as before, more people take an unwanted cold shower. > > Both incidents were reported in the newspapers.The sailor is famous. 1. Just to be certain: does food have any relevance to the puzzle? 2. Did these incidents happen at a theme park? 3. Were real-world representations (statues or the like) of Popeye and/or Donald Duck involved? ---
**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 24, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/759 "2017-07-24T13:55:38Z")
Did Popeye splash people with water? ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/760 "2017-07-24T14:53:45Z")
Is the medium in which the fictional characters were presented relevant? (i.e., movie, TV show, comic book, etc.) Were the fictional characters presented in the same medium? Were the fictional characters presented in the same work? Did one or both of the events referenced involve a collaboration between the companies which own the two fictional characters? In all of the above questions, “the fictional characters” should be taken as referring to Popeye the Sailor Man and Donald Duck, not to any other fictional characters which might be incidentally involved. Actually, that suggests another couple of questions: Were any other fictional characters specifically relevant, other than Popeye and Donald? Were any other fictional characters who do not routinely appear with Popeye and/or Donald relevant in any way? (that would include, for instance, Bugs Bunny, Daedelus, and Aragorn, but not Olive Oyl or Mickey Mouse). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=39)