# 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:** 4
**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, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/61 "2017-07-10T22:29:11Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Is it a blood bank? > Is it a sperm bank? > > If a blood bank, is the robber a vampire? If a sperm bank, was he trying to get his own, er, deposit back? Yes, it’s a blood bank. He stole rare blood for his daughter so she could have a transfusion. Good job. ---
**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 11, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/62 "2017-07-11T00:03:46Z")
Is the seat one of the parts? ---
**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 11, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/63 "2017-07-11T00:23:55Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is the seat one of the parts? Not exactly. ---
**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 11, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/64 "2017-07-11T00:29:23Z")
Seat covers re-purposed as sofa arm covers? ---
**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 11, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/65 "2017-07-11T01:55:31Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Seat covers re-purposed as sofa arm covers? No. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/66 "2017-07-11T02:01:28Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Not exactly. Constructing a “steely dan”? ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/67 "2017-07-11T13:56:42Z")
Biotop, are you constructing something? If so, is it primarily aesthetic, like a mobile or a sculpture? As opposed to an object with non-aesthetic utility, like a fancy hat-rack or a pogo stick (or a steely dan). ---
**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 11, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/68 "2017-07-11T13:59:32Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Biotop, are you constructing something? > > If so, is it primarily aesthetic, like a mobile or a sculpture? As opposed to an object with non-aesthetic utility, like a fancy hat-rack or a pogo stick (or a steely dan). Yes. ---
**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 11, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/69 "2017-07-11T17:01:54Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > 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? Are the “several things” important for us to understand the answer? Is the bike seat stem one of the parts? Is any part of the handlebar included in your set of parts? ---
**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 11, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/70 "2017-07-11T17:15:24Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Are the “several things” important for us to understand the answer? > > Is the bike seat stem one of the parts? > > Is any part of the handlebar included in your set of parts? 1. Yes 2. Not exactly 3. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/71 "2017-07-11T17:50:31Z")
You’ve answered ‘not exactly’ instead of ‘no’ to two questions about the bicycle seat/stem so is there another type of seat, other than the kind you put your butt on, that is included in your parts? Is there an axle bearing seat? Is there a steering bearing seat? Is there a crank bearing seat? ---
**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 11, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/72 "2017-07-11T18:04:46Z")
I answered “not exactly”, but I should have answered “no” to those specific questions, I think. ---
**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 11, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/73 "2017-07-11T18:08:24Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > 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? Are you making or repairing (or similar) an exercise bike? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/74 "2017-07-11T18:16:59Z")
Are the bicycle parts functional or just decorative or have a secondary function on a bicycle? As examples, a water bottle, air pump or handlebar streamers wouldn’t be primary functional parts of a bicycle. ---
**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 11, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/75 "2017-07-11T23:29:58Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Are you making or repairing (or similar) an exercise bike? 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 11, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/76 "2017-07-11T23:37:24Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Are the bicycle parts functional or just decorative or have a secondary function on a bicycle? As examples, a water bottle, air pump or handlebar streamers wouldn’t be primary functional parts of a bicycle. No the bicycle parts are not functional. No the bicycle parts are not bicycle accessories. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/77 "2017-07-12T00:14:53Z")
Do these parts come on a roll? No, not a Kaiser roll, like tape? If not, do they make a sound? ---
**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 12, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/78 "2017-07-12T00:40:36Z")
Does “bicycle” in this context refer to the two-wheeled vehicle one can sit astride, propel via pedals, and so convey oneself from one location to another? I figure I ought to confirm that, because this is getting kind of confusing. ---
**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 12, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/79 "2017-07-12T01:13:07Z")
Is what you are making an art project? ---
**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 12, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/80 "2017-07-12T02:30:26Z")
Are you creating a machine that will cause you to excel at Mafia? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=5)