Can you solve this week's puzzler?

View in browser » 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? Find out here » Congratulations to this week's puzzler winner: Congratulations! This correct answer was chosen at random by our Web Lackeys. Cartalk.com Community This Week's Show Podcast Add to address book Unsubscribe from list Email preferences Shameless Commerce Care of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 Contents © 2026, Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

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Can you solve this week's puzzler?

View in browser » The $63 Bathroom Escape Puzzler time. After finishing a show, the whole Car Talk crew heads out to a local place for drinks and buffalo wings. Everyone’s having a good time. Just before the bill comes… my brother and I sneak off to the bathroom— …and climb out the window. (Yes, third floor. Don’t try this at home.) So now the rest of the group is left with the bill. The total comes to $63. One of the guys says, “Hey, those two stiffed us—but if everyone else throws in an extra $2, we can cover it.” And they do. No problem. So the puzzler question is: How many people were in the original group? And—this is the hard part—prove that your answer is the only possible one. Good luck. Answer the Puzzler » Remember last week's puzzler? Less Load, More Trouble Puzzler time. This one is from long time ago. Here it is. Years ago, when railroads still ran steam locomotives, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had a busy freight line running south from Rochester. On that line, they used a 2-8-2 steam locomotive — two wheels in front, eight driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. A locomotive like this could normally pull a train of 80 fully loaded cars. No problem. But on this particular run, something strange happened. If the train had 80 cars, it could make the trip just fine. But if it had only 60 cars, it couldn’t make it at all. It needed more cars to succeed. Not fewer. More. And the hint is: there was something unusual about the route south of Rochester. So the puzzler question is: Why did the locomotive need 80 cars to make the trip, but fail with only 60? Find out here » Congratulations to this week's puzzler winner: Jerry Nagles Rockford, IL Congratulations! This correct answer was chosen at random by our Web Lackeys. Cartalk.com Community This Week's Show Podcast Add to address book Unsubscribe from list Email preferences Shameless Commerce Care of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 Contents © 2026, Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

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