# 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:** 86
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1701 "2017-09-27T21:18:43Z")
Man-made, Underground, partly due to combustion — I would be thinking the nuclear waste site at Yucca Mountain, but Mahaloth said no to radiation. (I also don’t know if radioactive waste actually warms the immediate environment to “sweltering.” My guess is no. Also, without Googling, not sure if Yucca Mountain actually got much/any waste yet.) Okay, Mahaloth: was the human activity that caused the sweltering temperatures related to the energy industry in a significant way? ---
**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 27, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1702 "2017-09-27T21:32:49Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Okay, Mahaloth: was the human activity that caused the sweltering temperatures related to the energy industry in a significant way? No. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1703 "2017-09-27T21:33:49Z")
If the temperatures were reversed and the recency ignored, then the natural nuclear reactor at Oklo would be a good fit. Hmmm… is it the Salton Sea? ---
**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 27, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1704 "2017-09-27T21:52:37Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Hmmm… is it the Salton Sea? No. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1705 "2017-09-27T23:34:46Z")
Is the lowering of water levels involved? Or draining water entirely? ---
**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:** [September 27, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1706 "2017-09-27T23:40:18Z")
Is it a really deep hole that’s been dug - open-cast mining on a grand scale? ---
**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 27, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1707 "2017-09-27T23:53:29Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Is the lowering of water levels involved? Or draining water entirely? Neither, as far as I know. > [@Quartz](#): > > Is it a really deep hole that’s been dug - open-cast mining on a grand scale? No. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1708 "2017-09-28T00:07:36Z")
Was it an accident? Is it in the US? ---
**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 28, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1709 "2017-09-28T00:16:25Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Was it an accident? > > Is it in the US? No to both. ---
**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 28, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1710 "2017-09-28T01:47:15Z")
Possible reasons for the change: 1. Is tourism involved? 2. Is recreation involved? 3. Is transportation involved? 4. Is mining involved? 5. Is research involved? 6. Is food production involved? 7. Is waste disposal involved? 8. Is telecommunication involved? ---
**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 28, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1711 "2017-09-28T01:54:10Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Possible reasons for the change: > > 1. Is tourism involved? NO > 2. Is recreation involved? NO > 3. Is transportation involved? YES > 4. Is mining involved? NO > 5. Is research involved? NO > 6. Is food production involved? NO > 7. Is waste disposal involved? NO > 8. Is telecommunication involved? NO Transportation, yes. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2017, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1712 "2017-09-28T10:02:21Z")
Is it a tunnel? Is it the Channel Tunnel? ---
**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 28, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1713 "2017-09-28T12:46:26Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Is it a tunnel? Is it the Channel Tunnel? Yes, tunnel. No to the channel tunnel. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1714 "2017-09-28T14:21:58Z")
London underground? Has it been getting steadily hotter as its used more? ---
**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 28, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1715 "2017-09-28T14:23:51Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > London underground? Has it been getting steadily hotter as its used more? London Underground? YES Second question? YES, but why? Not the increase of people or trains. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1716 "2017-09-28T16:06:00Z")
Does it have to do with how long it has been there? Thermal buildup? ---
**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 28, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1717 "2017-09-28T16:11:27Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Does it have to do with how long it has been there? Thermal buildup? Yep, I think this is solved. The deepest portions of it are under a cay that was so insulating, the heat is now lingering and unable to escape. When the Underground first opened, it was advertised as an escape from hot weather in the summer. Now, it can be over 30 degrees Celsius. [Some more here if you like.](https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2017/06/10/cooling-the-tube-engineering-heat-out-of-the-underground/) ---
**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:** [September 28, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1718 "2017-09-28T16:22:41Z")
Oops. Window open too long. Retracting question… ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1719 "2017-09-28T17:14:50Z")
But what about the smell? 😉 ---
**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 28, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1720 "2017-09-28T17:51:41Z")
> [@RadioWave](#): > > But what about the smell? > > 😉 I thought I’d read it was very smelly, too, but upon looking, I could not find any reference to this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=85) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=87)