# 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:** 63
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1241 "2017-09-04T23:56:25Z")
Did the chicken survive the decapitation? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1242 "2017-09-05T01:31:56Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Had the chicken swallowed something valuable, and did the farmer discover it after the beheading? No. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1243 "2017-09-05T01:34:07Z")
Was it Mike the Headless Chicken? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1244 "2017-09-05T01:39:41Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Did the chicken survive the decapitation? 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:** [September 5, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1245 "2017-09-05T01:43:21Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > Was it Mike the Headless Chicken? [Yes.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken&ved=0ahUKEwjCjbr69IzWAhUK5oMKHbQmA9cQFgitATAi&usg=AFQjCNHMxeH1Yxq5UITTJVAtc3jaPoF6AQ) Brought Mr. Olsen in over $4000 a month for a while. Mike lived 18 months. 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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1246 "2017-09-05T02:00:11Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > [Yes.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken&ved=0ahUKEwjCjbr69IzWAhUK5oMKHbQmA9cQFgitATAi&usg=AFQjCNHMxeH1Yxq5UITTJVAtc3jaPoF6AQ) > > Brought Mr. Olsen in over $4000 a month for a while. Mike lived 18 months. > > Good job. $4000 a month? Wow, I had no idea, though I have heard of the chicken. Thanks. I have one I’ll post in the next post. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1247 "2017-09-05T02:13:45Z")
Supposedly others tried to replicate the results with their own chickens… with less than favorable outcomes. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1248 "2017-09-05T02:20:51Z")
**Jimmy plans a theft and successfully carries it out. He gets away with his loot, when he stops. He asks for someone to call the police and confesses. Why?** ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1249 "2017-09-05T02:25:42Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > **Jimmy plans a theft and successfully carries it out. He gets away with his loot, when he stops. He asks for someone to call the police and confesses. Why?** 1. Was this his plan all along (because, for example, it was a protest, or he was demonstrating security weaknesses or something)? 2. Was he injured? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1250 "2017-09-05T02:27:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. Was this his plan all along (because, for example, it was a protest, or he was demonstrating security weaknesses or something)? > 2. Was he injured? 1. No. 2. 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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1251 "2017-09-05T02:29:11Z")
Is this based on a true story? Would Jimmy likely have been caught if he did not confess? Did Jimmy steal money? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1252 "2017-09-05T02:41:24Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Is this based on a true story? > > Would Jimmy likely have been caught if he did not confess? > > Did Jimmy steal money? 1. Yes. 2. Probably, but I don’t know. 3. No. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1253 "2017-09-05T02:44:25Z")
1. Was he injured by his loot? 2. Is it important to determine what his loot was? 3. Was the loot alive? 4. Was the loot a weapon? 5. Was the loot of an unusual temperature? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1254 "2017-09-05T02:49:44Z")
Is it the same story that was mentioned in a [recent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20452327&highlight=porn#post20452327)? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1255 "2017-09-05T03:13:52Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. Was he injured by his loot? > 2. Is it important to determine what his loot was? > 3. Was the loot alive? > 4. Was the loot a weapon? > 5. Was the loot of an unusual temperature? 1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3. Yes. 4. No. 5. No. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it the same story that was mentioned in a [recent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20452327&highlight=porn#post20452327)? 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:** [September 5, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1256 "2017-09-05T03:17:18Z")
Was the loot a pair of gaboon vipers? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1257 "2017-09-05T03:22:23Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Was the loot a pair of gaboon vipers? Yes, this is all there is to it. I wasn’t confident in this one and it looks like I was right. You obviously had heard of the story? His name was actually Louis. [Boy steals vipers, is bitten by them.](http://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/06/us/zoos-come-to-aid-of-teen-ager-bitten-by-viper-stolen-from-cage-in-washington.html?mcubz=1) ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1258 "2017-09-05T03:49:30Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Yes, this is all there is to it. > > I wasn’t confident in this one and it looks like I was right. You obviously had heard of the story? His name was actually Louis. > > [Boy steals vipers, is bitten by them.](http://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/06/us/zoos-come-to-aid-of-teen-ager-bitten-by-viper-stolen-from-cage-in-washington.html?mcubz=1) Yes. It happened in Washington DC back in the '80’s. I was at UVA and my friends and I had several snakes as pets during those years. I remember the story well. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2017, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1259 "2017-09-05T04:01:47Z")
**Do you know about a certain 23 year-old girl listed in the _Guinness Book of World Records_? She was at work when she set the record, but she was only working because of a screw-up in the schedule. Her world record (33, 330) was set that day in 1973. Her record was unintentional, and will surely never be broken. What did she do to earn the listing?** ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1260 "2017-09-05T04:09:40Z")
Was she a flight attendant? 😉 (If it’s the one I’m thinking of, there has been some question in recent years whether the accident happened as reported, but being in the former USSR I don’t think the truth will ever be certain. ) I’d search for a link but I’m at work and on my phone, so it’s all too difficult. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=62) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=64)