# 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:** 97
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1921 "2017-11-06T13:40:38Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Is a noble title involved? **No**. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1922 "2017-11-06T16:58:09Z")
Would the person’s right to the money somehow depend upon: - Your parents being, or having been married (to each other)? -(At least) one of your parent’s written will? - Some other document(s) signed by one (or both) of your parents? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1923 "2017-11-06T17:18:41Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > Would the person’s right to the money somehow depend upon: > > - Your parents being, or having been married (to each other)? **No**. > > -(At least) one of your parent’s written will? **Yes**. > > - Some other document(s) signed by one (or both) of your parents? **No**. Answers embedded. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1924 "2017-11-06T18:18:09Z")
Is the person adopted? Is the person a half or full sibling? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1925 "2017-11-06T18:33:47Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Is the person adopted? **No.** Is the person a half or full sibling? **No**. Just to clarify, per previously answered questions, this person is not related to me or my parents in any way, either full, half, step or adoption. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1926 "2017-11-06T21:29:50Z")
So, it looks like what we have is that at least one of your parents has named this person as a beneficiary in their will, but that person doesn’t know it. I’m unclear as to what part of this we still need to figure out, because that sounds pretty straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1927 "2017-11-06T21:49:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So, it looks like what we have is that at least one of your parents has named this person as a beneficiary in their will, but that person doesn’t know it. I’m unclear as to what part of this we still need to figure out, because that sounds pretty straightforward. **No.** I believe that there were some initial assumptions made that were incorrect, and now everyone is off track. In the immortal words of Mark Felt, “Follow the 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:** [November 6, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1928 "2017-11-06T23:52:29Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **No.** I believe that there were some initial assumptions made that were incorrect, and now everyone is off track. In the immortal words of Mark Felt, “Follow the money.” Would a hint be available or is it impossible without giving it all away? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1929 "2017-11-07T00:06:50Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Would a hint be available or is it impossible without giving it all away? “Follow the money” was a hint. 🙂 > [@Chronos](#): > > Careful phrasing of the questions is important, since some things might not mean what you think they mean: If your question contains an assumption, then you probably want to verify your assumption before you ask. I suggest reading back through the questions and answers so far, and then asking very specific questions about your assumptions. If that doesn’t help get us back on the right track, I’ll see if I can come up with more of a hint. I will say this: I had assumed that you (meaning everyone in the thread) would get to step 1 of the answer, which is the more obvious and direct part, quickly, and then have a lot more difficulty with step 2, which is the lateral thinking part. But you went off the rails almost immediately, and still have not gotten to step 1. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1930 "2017-11-07T00:34:22Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **I know someone who has a strong motive to murder to my parents, even though this person has never met my parents and is unaware of the motive. Who is it?** I apologize if these are repeats, but I am trying to come at this totally fresh in order to not get off track. Does this involve real people? Does murder mean kill or end the life of your parents? Is this person you? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1931 "2017-11-07T00:43:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I apologize if these are repeats, but I am trying to come at this totally fresh in order to not get off track. > > Does this involve real people? **Yes.** > > Does murder mean kill or end the life of your parents? **Yes.** > > Is this person you? **No**. Answers embedded. I appreciate you taking this fresh approach and am hoping that it will lead in the right direction. 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1932 "2017-11-07T00:59:21Z")
Is this person a child? Is this person an adult? Does the age of this person matter? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1933 "2017-11-07T01:18:20Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is this person a child? **No.** > > Is this person an adult? **Yes**. > > Does the age of this person matter? **No**. Aaargh! And we’re back to where we went off the rails last time, which is in focusing too much on the person, and not enough on the circumstances. Follow the money! There is definitely something about the person that is relevant, but I think you’ll have a much better chance of solving this if you focus on trying to identify the motive. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1934 "2017-11-07T02:13:28Z")
Is the motive financial gain? Is the motive revenge based? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1935 "2017-11-07T03:09:22Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is the motive financial gain? **Yes**. > > Is the motive revenge based? **No**. Answers embedded. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1936 "2017-11-07T03:15:53Z")
Does the person know about the possibility of financial gain with your parents death? Is the source of where the money comes from important? Is the money the parents money currently? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1937 "2017-11-07T03:20:12Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Does the person know about the possibility of financial gain with your parents death? **No**. > > Is the source of where the money comes from important? **Asking more questions along these lines could be helpful.** > > Is the money the parents money currently? **Yes**. Answers embedded. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1938 "2017-11-07T04:42:29Z")
Is the money that the person would gain currently in the possession of one or both of your parents? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1939 "2017-11-07T13:43:14Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is the money that the person would gain currently in the possession of one or both of your parents? **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:** [November 7, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1940 "2017-11-07T13:48:03Z")
Are the parents criminals? Is the money to be passed down via a lawsuit or something similar? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=96) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=98)