talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

I'm fairly new to magic, but am developing a bit of an interest in card magic particularly. When I started playing around with cards I was using Waddingtons Number 1 cards instead of a Bicycle deck. I've since bought a few packs of Bicycles but find them more awkward to handle than the Waddingtons ones.

Anyone any thoughts on what the best type of cards to continue using is? I know by far Bicycle would be the more popular choice for magicans. Reckon I should continue on with Bicycle's and just get used to them, or revert back to the Waddingtons ones?

Anyway.. just curious about people's thoughts on it..

J

Hi Jonny, welcome to TM.

Use whatever you're comfortable with, most magician use Bikes because you can get gaff cards for them very easily. You might find Bikes more tricky to use to start with because, being poker cards they're bigger. But that soon goes once ytou get used to them. Now I actually find bridge cards harder to work with because they're more fiddly.

But at the end of the day it's down to you, use what ever you feel most comfortable using.

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 still use bikes tho. But it's the four index thing that is a significant advantage with both Waddingtons and Piatniks in my opinion.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Use whatever you're comfortable with, most magician use Bikes because you can get gaff cards for them very easily.

Having recently acquired some Bikes, I discovered that they have a weakness. The ink can actually be rubbed off with a pencil eraser, as I discovered after practicing a trick that involves a secret pencil mark on the back of a card. I've not encountered this feature in any other brand.

(The cards I use for magic are Piatniks, btw.)

You might find Bikes more tricky to use to start with because, being poker cards they're bigger. But that soon goes once ytou get used to them. Now I actually find bridge cards harder to work with because they're more fiddly.

Well, I believe Bikes come in both sizes.

I wonder how many card magicians practice with both poker-size and bridge-size cards, in order to remain adaptable. I've certainly noticed that some moves have to be done somewhat differently, depending on the size used.

Just to add my usual bit, there are dozens of previous threads on Bikes vs other cards with lots of tips and thoughts to add to the confusion! The Search function should find a lot of them but, as Lady of Mystery says, it's very much a personal choice, Paul Daniels always seems to use Waddingtons and he knows a bit about our art!

Paul Daniel's uses Waddingtons? That's encouraging!
As I read this thread I'm aware of an internal influence going on somewhere in my psyche that feels a bit like "Branding"?
In that, somewhere I seem to have been hit by some subliminal message such as " ' real' magicians use bikes!".
Anyone else recognise this?
Waddingtons vs Bicycle.. similar to Diadora vs Nike?

As Lady of Mystery says, the range of specials and gaffs in Bikes seems to be much larger than in any other brand but if all your card work is pure sleight of hand than any brand you like will do fine .

sorry mandrake.. i was actually thinking immediately after posting it probably wasn't the right section of the site to ask! will search better and try be more careful to post to the appropriate sections in future... sorry again..

Mandrake wrote:Just to add my usual bit, there are dozens of previous threads on Bikes vs other cards with lots of tips and thoughts to add to the confusion! The Search function should find a lot of them but, as Lady of Mystery says, it's very much a personal choice, Paul Daniels always seems to use Waddingtons and he knows a bit about our art!

No worries, I'll move this to Support and Tips so it'll be in the right place!

I haven't used Waddington's cards for years and they are far easier to come by in the UK outside of magic shops than Bikes are.

Myself, I prefer Bikes to any other cards (though I do love Tally-Ho's too). I have got used to the feel of Bikes and as others have stated, the amount of gaff cards and special decks you can get in standard Bicycle format makes it much more convincing when you are swicthing decks during a routine.

When I started out Waddingtons was well known in West Yorks and every pub had a pack of Waddys. If you used a different deck people were always suspicious of it so I always used Waddys, and still do.

There is a theory that says practice on poker size and perform with bridge size. It is equivilant to playing billiards. If you practice on a full size snooker table and then switch to a tavern table well the game gets a lot easier, (except that tavern tables are usually pretty beat up). It is just easier. But like Lady of Mystery suggested the problem is then you get used to what you practice on. You really want to use cards that are not too different. I collect cards because I'm an idiot and I like things that are really off beat. The problem is if you use them in performance people tend to be more interested in the cards then the magic. Same with the really odd coins.

I used to use really cheap cards and then bought a ppack of bikes and have never turned back. I have used a couple of sets of waddington's number 1 but they just didn't feel as smooth and as 'Graceful' as bikes do. Ok yes that is a really sado statement but it's true!

I agree with TheAlkhemist07, Bikes are of a much higher quality. The air cushion finish allows them to flow really smoothly and the backing has greater visual impact and looks better when flourishing.
They may seem a little big at first (if you're used to bridge cards) but with a little practice you will build up the requisite strength, dexterity and muscle memory.

I also find the size itself makes for a superior aesthetic. I believe the dimensions of poker cards are much closer to (if not bang on) the golden ratio, which for weirdoes like me counts for a lot. Something about those narrow bridge cards feels too off kilter for my liking, in fact it disturbs me on a near autistic level.

Bikes aren't the be all and end all though, Tally-Ho are fantastic and many card manipulators rate them far higher than bikes (they certainly have a nice backing and a sweeter looking ace of spades).
The comments about the availability off gaff cards are bang on as well. O how I love my cigarette through card gaff, though I wonder how much longer that particular trick will remain relevant. I guess I'll have to find a 'signature' pen the same diameter as a ciggy.

For the best of both worlds, the USPCC also make Bicycles in bridge size - if size is an issue.