# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/141 "2017-07-13T02:41:45Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > [You got it!](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F819VjUcHPKL._SX355_.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FEduca-Amsterdam-Bike-Puzzle-3000-Piece%2Fdp%2FB00I03R7UA&docid=A4viqliIie0xRM&tbnid=tAZRJyye0hEarM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjAhKL3l4TVAhUJPj4KHVgWCiAQMwg6KAEwAQ..i&w=355&h=262&client=ms-android-verizon&bih=560&biw=360&q=educa%20bicycle%203000%20puzzle&ved=0ahUKEwjAhKL3l4TVAhUJPj4KHVgWCiAQMwg6KAEwAQ&iact=mrc&uact=8) Pbbthbbhtth!. A photograph is not a part of a bicycle. And if you say otherwise, I’m prepared to give you $1000 right now. No catches. You won’t have to give it back. I ask nothing in return. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/142 "2017-07-13T02:43:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@TriPolar](#): > > > > Because the radio fell in the bathtub she was in. > > No. OK an iPhone then? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/143 "2017-07-13T02:45:16Z")
She was playing musical chairs and in running to a chair when the music stopped, she had a heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/144 "2017-07-13T02:55:32Z")
The end of the music was the signal for her execution? ---
**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 13, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/145 "2017-07-13T03:04:59Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > OK an iPhone then? Nothing fell in a tub and she was not electrocuted. In fact, there is no tub or water involved in this incident. > [@Princhester](#): > > She was playing musical chairs and in running to a chair when the music stopped, she had a heart attack. No. And she was not playing any kind of game. > [@SCAdian](#): > > The end of the music was the signal for her execution? No and she was not executed. ---
**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 13, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/146 "2017-07-13T03:15:30Z")
I won’t give a hint yet, but a suggestion. I would not simply attempt to guess the final answer. I would work to put together the situation bit by bit, working towards the answer. Ask about the situation and the rest will click. I will now ask my own question. In the above statement, were there any secret hints or puns that hint at the answer? 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 13, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/147 "2017-07-13T03:29:38Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Pbbthbbhtth!. A photograph is not a part of a bicycle. > > And if you say otherwise, I’m prepared to give you $1000 right now. No catches. You won’t have to give it back. I ask nothing in return. Neither are bicycle cards bicycles. But I can tell you when working a puzzle, my wife and I use that jargon all the time. “I’ve got part of the bicycle here.” “That looks like part of the center building.” Etc. Etc. ---
**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 13, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/148 "2017-07-13T03:31:10Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I won’t give a hint yet, but a suggestion. > > I would not simply attempt to guess the final answer. I would work to put together the situation bit by bit, working towards the answer. Ask about the situation and the rest will click. > > I will now ask my own question. > > In the above statement, were there any secret hints or puns that hint at the answer? > > No. Did she know she was going to die when the music stopped? ---
**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 13, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/149 "2017-07-13T03:38:28Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did she know she was going to die when the music stopped? No. And good question. 🙂 ---
**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 13, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/150 "2017-07-13T03:56:01Z")
Was she murdered? ---
**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 13, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/151 "2017-07-13T03:58:25Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Was she murdered? No. Another good question. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/152 "2017-07-13T04:15:17Z")
I’ll refrain from this one since I think I know the solution, though, the situation as I heard it was slightly different. And in some ways I like the way I heard it better because it is a bit more of an elegant setup, for reasons I won’t say because I’d be giving a clue. ---
**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 13, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/153 "2017-07-13T04:38:21Z")
Does the kind of music matter? ---
**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 13, 2017, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/154 "2017-07-13T04:48:16Z")
Did a piano fall on her? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/155 "2017-07-13T06:58:05Z")
Was she music? ---
**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 13, 2017, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/156 "2017-07-13T07:12:57Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Was she music? I like this answer. ---
**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 13, 2017, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/157 "2017-07-13T07:29:24Z")
Music box dancer? ---
**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 13, 2017, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/158 "2017-07-13T07:51:45Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Music box dancer? I thought of that, but post#130 confirms she’s human and (formerly) living. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/159 "2017-07-13T08:00:08Z")
Is she blind/blindfolded? Was the music supposed to play for a certain length of time/until event x happened, but because the music stopped early she thought it was safe to perform an action when it wasn’t? ---
**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 13, 2017, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/160 "2017-07-13T12:11:51Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Does the kind of music matter? No. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Did a piano fall on her? No. > [@Muffin](#): > > Was she music? No. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Music box dancer? No. > [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > 1. Is she blind/blindfolded? > > 2. Was the music supposed to play for a certain length of time/until event x happened, but because the music stopped early she thought it was safe to perform an action when it wasn’t? 1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3. Uh, those questions are pretty spot on and out of nowhere. Are you sure you didn’t look it up? We still need more details, but Mr Shine just went from zero to close. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=9)