# 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:** 74
**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:** [September 19, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1461 "2017-09-19T21:53:39Z")
Is it inspired by: - a movie? - television? - a song/music video? - a book or something else literary/written? - some other artistic endeavour? ---
**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 19, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1462 "2017-09-19T22:38:32Z")
Is it a historical event? Was it a movie logo opening? ---
**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 19, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1463 "2017-09-19T23:41:23Z")
OK, I figured it out too. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1464 "2017-09-20T00:06:07Z")
He wasn’t actually dressed all in white. His outfit was partly gold. But no to all of **Walken After Midnight** ’s questions. > [@](#): > > Is it a historical event? Yes. > > Was it a movie logo opening? 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 20, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1465 "2017-09-20T00:19:30Z")
I haven’t seen that Youtube video, and I’m not sure I’ve heard about it, but I’m pretty sure I know what’s going on. Cool writeup, though! ---
**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 20, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1466 "2017-09-20T00:44:12Z")
There was one particular detail which tipped me off. I doubt whether I would have recognized the situation without it. Once it is solved I will post what it was, because I’m interested whether the same thing tipped off other people. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1467 "2017-09-20T00:47:32Z")
As soon as I saw dropping a hammer and feather, I knew what it was. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1468 "2017-09-20T00:48:48Z")
Sheesh, how are we supposed to come up with yes/no questions for this one? OK, I do remember a story about Leonardo da Vinci proving the force of gravity is a constant by dropping a feather and an iron ingot from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and showing they hit the ground simultaneously. Do this have something to do with your inspiration? ---
**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 20, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1469 "2017-09-20T01:27:24Z")
Is it inspired by: - a movie? No. - television? Yes. - a song/music video? No. - a book or something else literary/written? No - some other artistic endeavour? No ---
**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 20, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1470 "2017-09-20T01:30:13Z")
Is the video actual footage of the historical event(as opposed to a recreation)? Is the footage from: 40’s 50’s 60’s 70’s 80’s 90’s 2000’s ---
**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 20, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1471 "2017-09-20T01:31:59Z")
OK, I do remember a story about Leonardo da Vinci proving the force of gravity is a constant by dropping a feather and an iron ingot from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and showing they hit the ground simultaneously. Do this have something to do with your inspiration? Yes…sort of… ---
**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 20, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1472 "2017-09-20T01:33:36Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is the video actual footage of the historical event(as opposed to a recreation)? > > Is the footage from: > > 40’s > 50’s > 60’s > 70’s > 80’s > 90’s > 2000’s Yes to 70’s No to all others ---
**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 20, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1473 "2017-09-20T01:40:59Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Yes to 70’s > > No to all others It’s a 70’s recreation of a historical event. ---
**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 20, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1474 "2017-09-20T02:05:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > It’s a 70’s recreation of a historical event. 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 20, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1475 "2017-09-20T02:07:05Z")
Oops… Is the video actual footage of the historical event **Yes. Sorry, I missed this part of the question.** ---
**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 20, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1476 "2017-09-20T02:15:36Z")
Actual footage of a feather and a hammer-like-tool from the 1970’s. Is the footage scientific? Is the footage for entertainment purposes? Is the footage genuinely on Youtube? ---
**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 20, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1477 "2017-09-20T02:22:56Z")
Actual footage of a feather and a hammer-like-tool from the 1970’s. Yes. Is the footage scientific? Yes. Is the footage for entertainment purposes? Not completely yes or no Is the footage genuinely on Youtube? 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:** [September 20, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1478 "2017-09-20T02:36:22Z")
I was born in 1978 and I have zero idea what this is. I am hardly the smartest person in the world, but I’m pretty smart and even educated. We have obviously found a gap in my knowledge. I have no idea. **Is this a “both objects fall at the same speed” experiment?** We did not use a hammer and a feather when I was a kid, but we did use a crumbled up ball of paper and something heavier(like a stapler). ---
**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 20, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1479 "2017-09-20T02:37:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I was born in 1978 and I have zero idea what this is. I am hardly the smartest person in the world, but I’m pretty smart and even educated. We have obviously found a gap in my knowledge. > > I have no idea. > > **Is this a “both objects fall at the same speed” experiment?** We did not use a hammer and a feather when I was a kid, but we did use a crumbled up ball of paper and something heavier(like a stapler). 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:** [September 20, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1480 "2017-09-20T02:40:53Z")
This isn’t on the moon, is it? I turn 40 next August and if they dropped a feather and hammer on the moon, I managed to make it this far without knowing this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=73) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=75)