# 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:** 48
**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:** [August 13, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/941 "2017-08-13T20:06:18Z")
1. Did V hit T by accident? 2. Was this an actual battle as opposed to a game, sparring session, or some outdoor activity? 3. Did this occur between year 0 and year 1700? 4. Did this occur between 1701-1800? 5. Did this occur between 1801-1900? 6. Did this occur between 1901-2000? 7. Did this occur between 2001-present day? 8. Did this occur in Europe? ---
**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:** [August 13, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/942 "2017-08-13T21:32:47Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > 1. Did V hit T by accident? > 2. Was this an actual battle as opposed to a game, sparring session, or some outdoor activity? > 3. Did this occur between year 0 and year 1700? > 4. Did this occur between 1701-1800? > 5. Did this occur between 1801-1900? > 6. Did this occur between 1901-2000? > 7. Did this occur between 2001-present day? > 8. Did this occur in Europe? 1. No. 2. Yes, in the 9th century if you want specifics. 3. Yes. 4-7. No. 4. Yes. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/943 "2017-08-13T22:02:13Z")
Is the cause of the infection the twist to this story? ---
**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:** [August 13, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/944 "2017-08-13T23:57:40Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is the cause of the infection the twist to this story? 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:** [August 14, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/945 "2017-08-14T01:42:33Z")
Did some of V’s blood get into T’s wounds? Was this the cause of the infection? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/946 "2017-08-14T02:21:06Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Did some of V’s blood get into T’s wounds? > > Was this the cause of the infection? No 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:** [August 14, 2017, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/947 "2017-08-14T11:52:18Z")
Was fecal matter involved in T’s death? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/948 "2017-08-14T13:24:05Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Was fecal matter involved in T’s death? No. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/949 "2017-08-14T16:53:59Z")
Was the infection one which is transmissible from one human to another? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/950 "2017-08-14T19:51:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was the infection one which is transmissible from one human to another? No. I’m going to give a nudge/hint. Torraddsson made one decision he definitely lived long enough to regret. ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/951 "2017-08-14T19:59:48Z")
Could T have killed V sooner if he had wanted too? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/952 "2017-08-14T20:56:20Z")
> [@RadioWave](#): > > Could T have killed V sooner if he had wanted too? 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:** [August 15, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/953 "2017-08-15T01:57:38Z")
Was whatever treatment T was given probably responsible for infecting the wound, so that, had it been left untreated, T might have survived? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/954 "2017-08-15T02:10:22Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Was whatever treatment T was given probably responsible for infecting the wound, so that, had it been left untreated, T might have survived? No. You guys are right to focus on what T did that he regretted before death. Ask about that and it is solvable. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2017, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/955 "2017-08-15T12:28:54Z")
Was T’s death a result of celebrating? Did something he drank or ate have to do with his death? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2017, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/956 "2017-08-15T12:37:32Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Was T’s death a result of celebrating? > Did something he drank or ate have to do with his death? 1. Yes. 2. No. Sent from my SM-S765C using Tapatalk ---
**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:** [August 15, 2017, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/957 "2017-08-15T12:39:17Z")
Did V outlive the battle? Did T accept a one-on-one duel? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/958 "2017-08-15T13:55:01Z")
So to summarize what we have so far: T and V (and their men) fought, and T and his men won through treachery, killing V in the process. At some point afterwards, T celebrated, and in the course of his celebrations, did something that he’d later regret. As a result of that something he’d later regret, he got an infection, but not of a sort transmissable from one person to another, and eventually died from that infection. Is that correct? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/959 "2017-08-15T16:47:24Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Did V outlive the battle? Did T accept a one-on-one duel? 1. No. 2. No. > [@Chronos](#): > > So to summarize what we have so far: T and V (and their men) fought, and T and his men won through treachery, killing V in the process. At some point afterwards, T celebrated, and in the course of his celebrations, did something that he’d later regret. As a result of that something he’d later regret, he got an infection, but not of a sort transmissable from one person to another, and eventually died from that infection.\* > > Is that correct? No, I think one answer needs to be altered a bit. Everything you said is correct, but I think it _could_ have been an infection transmissable from one person to another. I’m not 100% that it was, but it could have been. Anyway: > [@](#): > > Was the infection one which is transmissible from one human to another? Maybe. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/960 "2017-08-15T17:20:31Z")
Hope this isn’t a repeat. Did T’s celebration involve desecrating the body of V in some manner? Did he eat or try to eat his heart? Did he drink from his skull? Did he carry around any V body parts while celebrating? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=49)