talkmagic.co.uk

Magicbox have single decks of Bicycle Seconds for 99p each. I've never used them myself but hear they are more than acceptable for practice purposes, or even in a actual performance.

I have to say that this whole thing about "I heard Tally Hos last longer than Bikes" rubbish is really pointless. I've been through countless decks of Bikes and Tally Hos and they are both great - but they are both just tools.

If you are serious about your art then you shouldn't be trying to preserve decks as long as possible - just chuck the darn thing when it's a bit used. I recycle my decks so I know I'm not effing the environment up, but they're not exactly expensive so I treat them, like I said, as just tools.

For practice purposes you can get Bicycle Seconds from magicbox.uk.com for 75p each. There are smokers who go through a pack of cigarettes a day for way more than that. I don't smoke so I just see a deck of cards as a thing I need and can easily just toss into the cardboard recycling bin at my local Morrisons.

I can never understand why people are so precious about a deck of cards, like they're rare or something. Use it, abuse it, recycle it.

EDIT: Apparently MagicBox have now upped the price of Seconds... They used to be 75p

Thanks for the advice, I don't mind getting new decks and throwing old ones away, but when I paid £6 for split spades and they are bent out of the box I just wanted to know if they could be straightened or are they done.

I call a deck worn when when i have signatures on more cards than not. or i have used it for a torn and restorn effect. Bikes are so cheap nowadays its not too expensive to open a new deck earlier.

I always use a new deck for my paid bookings.

I just buy bricks of seconds! If I knew where the nearest Costco was I was would go there, but as it stands, International Magic sells 12 for £12.
Better than Davenports brand new 12 brick for £25

Protege08: You have been given loads of good advice for you to follow.
Now Worn Decks. IF they are not useable for all your card moves why not use them up in one special trick as
The Linking Cards. + as a finale, Andrew Mayne's 'Chain Reaction' dvd, in which you end up with a long chain of linked cards (examinable!!)Obtainable (£10) from Mr. E Enterprises i.e. Eddie Burke.
The Torn & Restored Card.
Card Stab
in other words, effects where you destroy cards leaving a deck minus some anyway.
Even Signed Card to ? Wallet, Pocket, Lemon, Mobile Phone, Anywhere as Roy Johnson's In a razor. Then give the signed card away as a souvenir.
Any depleted deck has the excuse, "I've performed/rehearsed this piece of magic so many times all I'm left with is this" ( Show depleted deck)

Thus the cards have a final use and meet an honourable end!

There is also Simon Lovell's dvd. 'The Dog Eared Deck'. Effects with an old worn deck.

Allen Tipton

If you do the LePaul spread, the convincing control or card fans and they don't move the way you want them and you begin to struggle with the moves, toss the decks away. If the sides of the deck are turning black you should have thrown it away many months ago. Iv'e heard that if you put a clamp or press on the deck and put them in the fridge overnight, the warp will go away. Haven't had the need to try but its worth a shot.
Cheers
Al

I personally think it is also worth knowing a few effects with these old decks. For the times when someone smiles and ask can you do a trick with their own deck. They then hand you something that resembles 52 flat sponges.

Hi Allen
You got in there just before me and you are right about using the old cards that way. I like to do Card Warp then go into the torn and restored card. You always give good advice and thats what I like about TM.
Best
Al

Thank you Al. I'd forgotten (Old age!) Card Warp (years since i did it) Yet i was telling a young friend in Seattle about it recently.
I really wanted the young man to start thinking, searching & researching for himself as he has had loads of posts.

Then there's variations on the Card Stab: the card dagger, card sword, card on extending aerial.. all with holes puched in them.

Allen Tipton

I found that if I get a little bored, I'll take out some old decks and make a card castle. There is alot that one can do with the old pasteboards.
Cheers
Al

You can use fanning powder to make them last slightly longer (though i can't see why you would bother)

I only go through about a deck every two months I opened my fourth deck of bikes yesterday, it was a very special moment for me.

The fridge does work I soaked a deck recently and the all warped put them in the fridge over night and then playeed them in a bit and they are now fine.

BTW whats anyones opinion on stud cards

I go through bikes at a ridiculous speed. Like 2 days! But then again I am still nailing certain sleights so they wear quickly.

Well gentlemen & guys. I dislike bikes As most of you have found out they do not wear too well. But that is not my reason for this heavy dislike

Although I gave up performing magic regularly 4 years ago I found, and a number of other magi have told me the same, lay people can be suspicious of bikes; especially children. Usually the lay folk have been to Disney World or some such place, visited the Magic Shop & what do they see there ...Magicians' Cards...bikes. So when they see a UK magician using them!!!!! Hmmm.
I realise , from a number of USA Magician friends that bikes are the norm...over there!

2 UK professional friends still prefer the old Waddingotn Decks( Linen backed) which, they tell me work & wear brilliantly well. When I was a boy Waddingtons were the only cards available and they rarely wore out! Think how much practice a teenager put in on those cards!

So when laymen see a uk magician with them the cry/whisper has often been.."Oh those are special magicians' cards!"

I have always like the old Fox Lake cards and I suppose Aviator ones are so similar they must be the same under a newer name.
They have always lasted. The 18 cards I used in my version of Senator Crandall's One Handed 6 Card Repeat, always went through dozens of performances over 12 months, using many Buckle Counts. before being renewed. Fox Lake/Aviator of course

If a new effect is out and it's with feke Bikes (& they 99% always are!) I won't use it unless I can convert it to Aviator.

Allen Tipton

Allen, from what you've said, I am going to by myself a nice pack of Aviators today (along with the the brick of bike seconds ) and see what I think!

If I use a deck from effects and sleights I am confident with, it will last for many performances in great condition. But bikes let you down when you start practising the same sleight over and over and over. They just can't keep up!