Cracking the Code: “Like Some Basic Bikes”
This week’s crossword puzzle threw me for a loop! While I usually breeze through the easier clues, one particular entry had me scratching my head. The clue?
“Like some basic bikes.”
At first glance, it seems deceptively simple. Bikes, after all, are common knowledge. But the “basic” part threw me. What makes a bike “basic”? Is it the number of gears? The style of frame? The intended use?
I tried picturing different types of bikes – mountain bikes, road bikes, cruisers, even those old-fashioned penny-farthings. None of them seemed to fit the bill.
I started digging deeper, looking for any subtle clues within the crossword itself. Maybe the surrounding words held the key? I examined the intersecting letters, hoping to find a pattern or a hint.
Nothing.
Frustration began to set in. I grabbed my trusty crossword dictionary, flipping through page after page. Could this be some obscure cycling terminology I’d never encountered?
My search proved futile. The dictionary offered no solace.
I decided to take a break, hoping a fresh perspective would help. I walked away from the puzzle, leaving the clue to simmer in the back of my mind.
While making a cup of tea, it hit me!
The answer was staring me right in the face, hidden in plain sight.
What did I miss? How did I overlook such a simple clue?
Stay tuned, and I’ll share my solution in the next post. In the meantime, see if you can crack the code yourself!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve figured it out. And if you’re stuck, don’t hesitate to ask for a hint!
Available Answers:
TWO-SPEED.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: NY Times Crossword 20 Jul 24, Saturday