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I've got small hands, and I prefer Waddies myself, but have to agree with the others that it's far easier to get gaffed bikes than other brands.

I always like to use a 'familiar' deck like the Waddington's brand, because I feel people are sometimes more comfortable with a 'familiar' brand, as you can't pick bikes up in the supermarket like you can Waddies.

magikmax wrote:I've got small hands, and I prefer Waddies myself, but have to agree with the others that it's far easier to get gaffed bikes than other brands.

I always like to use a 'familiar' deck like the Waddington's brand, because I feel people are sometimes more comfortable with a 'familiar' brand, as you can't pick bikes up in the supermarket like you can Waddies.

Asda and/or Tesco were selling Bike decks, at lkeast they were last year. With the rise of poker on TV, Bikes are being seen by more people, which can only be a good thing. My son is twelve and I bought him some bridge size Bikes. I use poker size. We both prefer the finish on them. You prefer Waddingtons and so that's the best for you. I wonder what cards are better known by teenagers etc? It may be that Bikes will be the norm, but Waddingtons viewed as dodgy. Not yet maybe, but in a few years?

I really like waddingtons, i like they way they feel, they don't last as long as bikes however they don't have the problem/quality (depending on what you're trying to do) of being excessively slippery straight from the box, which for some sleights i find to be a hindrance with bikes.
however i do love bikes for faro work, and i do love the faro. i only use it occasionally in performance, but mostly i just like doing it to entertain myself, i just looks pretty.
I agree with the advice above, use what feels comfortable to you.
i have always trained, practised and performed with poker sized bikes because i once received the advice to train with poker size, then if anyone hands you a poker deck you'll be ready, but if you train with bridge then you might not be able to adapt to the larger cards, however whenever i've ever been handed a deck, or borrowed a deck, i have rarely been given a poker sized deck. so i still train with poker cards, however i usually carry a bridge sized deck.
i've also taken a liking to beaten up old used cards. i cant perform a lot of sleights with them (although since the cards generally stick together anyway the DL is pretty simple - ha) but performing incredible magic with such a battered deck i just find rather enjoyable (although if it really is too battered then it feels like scratching a chalk board...)



i recently bought an unopened deck of thomas de la rue playing cards, de la rue were sold out to waddingtons in 1969 apparently, but I'm not sure of the exact date of the cards, however they look really nice, they don't fan well, but they have a certain thinkness and rigidity which i really like and makes a pleasing sound, also they smell amazing, like really old books. The came in a lovely leather case as well, which is a bonus.
Track some down if you can

All my life I used Waddingtons cards and then I went to Canada and couldn't use them any more. However, recently to my horror I went back to the UK and found everyone using the same ghastly American cards that I was forced to use in Canada. And Waddingtons didn't seem to be around anymore. I asked why and was told that Waddingtons cards were not good quality.

I replied "Stuff and Nonsense" and went off to find some in W. H. Smiths. I purchased a bunch of them and they seemed perfectly satisfactory. But alas after a short period I found that they weren't as good as they used to be and I have no idea what happened. They must have altered the manufacture in some way since I went to Canada. They wear out very quickly now whereas years ago they lasted for months on end even after heavy use.

They are still good for certain flourishes but I am afraid that is about it. If Waddingtons are reading this I advise them to pull their socks up and restore the wonderful quality they used to have.

As a Waddington born and bred I really should use Waddington branded cards, but alas, I use Bikes....

Sadly Waddington's exist only as a brand name these days, they were bought out many moons ago and, so I'm told, production is now carried out wherever the costs are lowest. As they're intended for playing card games, I guess the manufacturers don't have to take into account the needs of magicians...

I switched from Bikes to Fournier 505s a while back. They are not *vastly* more expensive than Waddingtons or Bicycle cards. Around £3.50, usually. Cards4Magic have them in stock, along with some compatible versions for the devious.

EDIT: They don't seem to stock the 505M anymore, though. This is my absolute favourite m****d deck.

VoodooMick Wrote:

"I think the thing that really upsets me about Bikes is that I've never seen a four index bike card...which would be nice considering I'm left handed."

I'm not left handed myself Mick but I did notice the other day that Cards4Magic do a left deck for "goofy" magicians. And you could check out some of the poker peek decks for four corner indexing

Not sure if I'm allowed to link directly to the specific item as it is probably against advertising rules.
Just search "left handed" and it comes up...

Or just start using your right hand more like normal people do

Morgan wrote:VoodooMick Wrote:

"I think the thing that really upsets me about Bikes is that I've never seen a four index bike card...which would be nice considering I'm left handed."

I'm not left handed myself Mick but I did notice the other day that Cards4Magic do a left deck for "goofy" magicians. And you could check out some of the poker peek decks for four corner indexing

Not sure if I'm allowed to link directly to the specific item as it is probably against advertising rules.
Just search "left handed" and it comes up...

Or just start using your right hand more like normal people do

http://nymagicproject.com/products/leftydeck.htm
http://www.magicnevin.com/proddetail.asp?prod=US00750

These links may help you guys
but at £6.99 a deck :O

Dan

I use whatever cards are at hand, but I much prefer bridge size. And I avoid bicycles, because if everyone raves about them, I don't want to know. It's just general awkwardness.