# 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:** 92
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1821 "2017-10-23T23:20:00Z")
Was the creature cat man sin(theta), at a right angle to both? Could the animal be described as a “man”, without qualifier? Could the animal be described as a “cat”, without qualifier? Does the word “man” refer to a specimen of _Homo sapiens_? Does the word “cat” refer to a specimen of family Felidae? Does the word “cat” refer to a specimen of _Felix sylvestris_? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1822 "2017-10-23T23:25:37Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Just reading the puzzle, and never having seen it before, I have an answer good enough that if it’s not what you intend, I’ll still stand by mine. If that isn’t the answer, it certainly deserves to be. Good thinking, and a nice puzzle. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1823 "2017-10-23T23:38:23Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Just reading the puzzle, and never having seen it before, I have an answer good enough that if it’s not what you intend, I’ll still stand by mine. > > A cross between a man and a cat=manx cat I also think this is an excellent answer. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1824 "2017-10-24T00:08:51Z")
I’m still unspoiled, for what it’s worth. I do have a guess, but I’d rather wait until I have answers to my questions. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1825 "2017-10-24T00:12:18Z")
Wait, I just realized a nuance to my guess, which probably aligns it with **LHoD** ’s guess. Could the creature equally well be described as “a cross between a cat and a man”? For what it’s worth, I’m expecting that the answers to my questions will be no, no, yes, no, yes, no, no, respectively. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1826 "2017-10-24T02:30:25Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Just reading the puzzle, and never having seen it before, I have an answer good enough that if it’s not what you intend, I’ll still stand by mine. > > A cross between a man and a cat=manx cat This is correct. Good job! I was not impressed by the manx cat. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1827 "2017-10-24T02:54:27Z")
**Chronos** , your answer was the same right? ---
**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:** [October 24, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1828 "2017-10-24T13:15:45Z")
Yup. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1829 "2017-10-25T00:56:30Z")
\*\*A prominent man took countless innocent lives. When others heard about his actions, not only were they not horrified, they praised him for his ingenuity and imagination. Why? \*\* ---
**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:** [October 25, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1830 "2017-10-25T01:22:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > \*\*A prominent man took countless innocent lives. When others heard about his actions, not only were they not horrified, they praised him for his ingenuity and imagination. Why? > \*\* By taking countless innocent lives do you mean killing 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:** [October 25, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1831 "2017-10-25T03:13:09Z")
Let’s break that up. Does “taking lives” mean killing? Are the lives people? ---
**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:** [October 25, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1832 "2017-10-25T03:40:42Z")
Even more, are the lives animal? Plant? Molds, spores, fungi? Viruses? Bacteria? Protozoan? ---
**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:** [October 25, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1833 "2017-10-25T22:58:47Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > By taking countless innocent lives do you mean killing people? No > [@Chronos](#): > > Let’s break that up. > > Does “taking lives” mean killing? **YES** > > Are the lives people? **NO** > [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Even more, are the lives animal? **YES** > > Plant? > > Molds, spores, fungi? > > Viruses? > > Bacteria? > > Protozoan? No to all except animal. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1834 "2017-10-25T23:36:33Z")
Was this the organisation of the extermination of an invasive species? Rats? ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1835 "2017-10-25T23:53:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > No to all except animal. Insects? ---
**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:** [October 25, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1836 "2017-10-25T23:56:17Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Was this the organisation of the extermination of an invasive species? Rats? No. > [@PigArcher](#): > > Insects? No. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1837 "2017-10-26T02:14:19Z")
Mice? A better mousetrap and all that ---
**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:** [October 26, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1838 "2017-10-26T02:22:49Z")
A bit meta, but… Is there any relevant information to figure out besides the species of organism that was killed? ---
**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:** [October 26, 2017, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1839 "2017-10-26T06:27:47Z")
Rodent? Reptile? Fish? Bird? Mammal? Harmful to humans? Harmful to the environment? Disease carrier? Pest? Is the time period relevant? ---
**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:** [October 26, 2017, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1840 "2017-10-26T10:12:26Z")
If you’d said no to the killing, the Kindertransport would have fit the bill admirably. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=91) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=93)