The Ordinary

Puzzler time.

Back in the 1800s, there was a kind of bicycle called the “ordinary.”

This was the one with the giant front wheel and the tiny back wheel—what some people called the penny-farthing.

It was expensive, hard to ride, and more than a little dangerous.

In fact, the most common accident was something called a “header,” where the rider would go flying over the handlebars.

So eventually, inventors came up with something better: the “safety bicycle.”

This had two wheels of equal size, a chain drive, and gearing—basically like the bicycles we use today.

But at first, nobody liked it.

People thought it was ugly, inefficient, and not nearly as elegant as the old high-wheelers.

Then, in 1889, a veterinary surgeon in Belfast patented a simple accessory.

And that one invention changed everything.

Suddenly, the safety bicycle became faster, more comfortable, and started winning races.

And just like that, the old high-wheel bikes disappeared.

So the puzzler question is:

What did this veterinary surgeon invent—or what was his name?

Good luck.

Answer the Puzzler »

Remember last week's puzzler?

The Poker Hand That Beats a Royal Flush

My wife and I are sitting at the kitchen table one evening, and there’s a deck of cards sitting there from the night before.

I had been teaching the kids how to play poker.

So my wife says, “Hey, I’d like to learn too.”

I say, “Sure,” and I explain the ranking of hands—royal flush at the top, all the way down to nothing at the bottom.

So she says, “Let’s try a game.”

All the cards are face up on the table.

She says, “You pick any five cards you want, and I’ll pick any five cards I want. Then we’ll see who wins.”

I say, “That’s ridiculous. I’ll pick a royal flush, you’ll pick a royal flush, and we’ll tie.”

She says, “Not necessarily.”

I say, “Oh yeah?”

She says, “You go first.”

So I pick a royal flush.

Then she picks her five cards…

…and she beats me.

So the puzzler question is:

What hand did she pick that beats a royal flush under these rules?