Solve This Pzzlr: Bicycles

Neatorama presents our collaboration with Pzzlr, a site where you can always find a riddle to exercise your brain. Can you solve this one?

This solution is not allowed. (Image credit: Flickr user Gwydion M. William)

Ai and An, two Chinese sisters, were asked by their mother to take some food to their aging grandmother in another village 20 miles away. They could either walk the distance at a rate of 4 miles per hour or ride their bicycles at a rate of 8 miles per hour. Keen to get to their grandmother as quickly as possible they decided to ride. Unfortunately, after only 4 miles Ai suffered a tyre blow-out and had to abandon her bike at the side of the road. Assuming that turning back was not an option the sisters could now either walk together the remaining distance or one could walk while the other rode the remaining bike (the bike could not hold both of them together). The course of action they decided on meant that they could get to their grandmother’s house as quickly as possible while minimising walking time.

What combination of walking and riding did they use?

Try to figure this one out on your own. When you know the answer, or you give up, read the solution at Pzzlr!

Look for a new puzzle here at Neatorama every Wednesday, and check out Pzzlr for a puzzle anytime!