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Since I am quite new to card magic, I have only been using descent cards for about 2 months and only light work, so the bikes I have still look and feel quite new. On this forum I have read posts that say that you will go through two bike decks before you go through one tallyho. I would just like to know what is classed as a worn deck and how can you tell when it needs replaced, so I don't keep using it and slow my learning.(Sorry if this sounds silly) Also I got a deck of David Blaine's new split spades and they are awsome! But the cards seem wrapped or twisted,ie when I sit them flat corners stick up and they are not even. Is this deck ruined or can I fix it, I have tried bending them into shape but can't seem to straighten them.

Thanks for any help

you'll usually find that cards will become sticky and more difficult to handle and they wont lie as flat as before.

You can get card presses that are meant to flattern them out but I don't know how well they work because I've never used them.

I have one of those card guard thingies but I don't use it as I find it causes more hassle than anything else; it grips the cards so tight, it's a job getting the deck out without damaging the case. Besides, I don't really have a problem with warped cards in gereral. If you feel like splashing out, you can get a Porper card clip which I've heard is quite good.

The deck is probably getting worn when it won't ribbon spread properly without the cards clumping together. To be honest, I rarely have a problem with this; I know Bicycles are not seen in the best of lights by some people, but I have no complaints about them. Then again, I'm just an AH, so my cards don't get as much use as a pro, so will obviously last a lot longer.

Yeah I would treat the decks as disposable. Ocasionally you may have a deck worth keeping, in which case don't use them for practising. A card press may also help, but this is a bit of an extravagance.

I have different ways of telling if a deck is worn. Some sleights, like the DL for example, will work better with a new deck before it becomes too worn. Other sleights work better with a nicely worn-in deck, such as the pass.
It's really a question of balance.

I really wouldn't worry too much about it. A new deck of Bikes is £1.50, so it's best just to go and buy a new one.
I like the (very simple) pleasure of opening a new one every firday when I finish work. Oh aye, I also like the crack in the magic shop when I pop in.

I don't know if you have Costcos in Scotland, but if there is one near you they often have bricks of Bikes which work out at well under a quid a pack. Luvverly jubbly.

I dont think we have Costcos, but Cards4magic.co.uk do blocks of bikes as well!

TheAlkhemist07 wrote:I dont think we have Costcos, but Cards4magic.co.uk do blocks of bikes as well!

Assuming you get a brick of twelve decks, it works out at £1.88 per deck, including postage.

Card will begin to warp, twist and stick together after being used for a while, so just stick those decks to one side and use them for practicing your torn and restored card, MCF or something similar!

So many people are so precious about their decks, even though they're only a couple of quid at most, and it makes life so much easier if they're not warped.

I did a gig last night and a lot of the stuff I was doing was in the spectators (sweaty ) hands. It was 2 hours long and by the end of it I'd started using my 3rd deck!

You'll begin notice yourself when the deck is finished, try doing a pressure fan and see how well it fans. Then pull out a new deck and do a pressure fan with it. That'll give you a good idea of the difference.

From what I've read people don't like using the clips but I always have my cards in one. I find they help flaten the cards after a session and makes them last a bit longer as they prevent permenant warping. Ah well horses for courses I guess.

Also one little tip- be careful when using a new deck for the first time after replacing your first deck. I kept dropping the cards everywhere as they were so slippy because I was going to long before replacing the decks in the beginning.

TheAlkhemist07 wrote:I dont think we have Costcos, but Cards4magic.co.uk do blocks of bikes as well!

There's a CostCo just north of the city in a large retail park, kinda near the Springburn area.

Yeah, I find that when I start with a new deck they fall all over the place because I've gotten used to less slippy cards!

Whether your deck is "too worn" or not is a personal decision, and it's best just to base it on - am I finding it unusually hard to do XYZ sleight? Try keeping a deck in "just broken in" condition, and when you are wondering if it's time to ditch whatever deck you're using, compare it to your "perfect deck" and see if everything is suddenly a lot easier.

There are two main factors in terms of worn-ness - dirty/stickiness and limpness. Cards eventually lose their springiness, and they feel "dead", which makes them difficult to work with. But I rarely get to that point because my deck will have been binned much earlier, when the cards were getting too dirty and sticky.

But they rarely get to that point either, because once a number of cards from one deck have been signed and kept by a spectator and the deck is getting a bit thin, I use the rest of the deck for spares and dupes, for "put pocket" style effects, and then finally for destructive effects like card warp.

Work out a way that is the best for you to get as much as you can out of you decks!

I had a porper clip and can honestly say that it helped so much. My cards lasted a lot longer, then I lost my clip Regular clips keep your case protected but dont really affect the cards.

In terms of when cards are worn, its personal. I personally like using cards straight out of the box which is why I go through more decks.. when they become what I consider worn I use them to practice springs, pressure fans, cobra cuts and things like that.

Others prefer a broken in deck.

Get new deck and see in what state YOU most feel comfortable using them in a there is your answer

How can you manage to use a deck until its worn out??? I usually have a deck a grand total of 3/4 days before I start to loose cards-just through practice! I must have dozens of decks with more than 10-15 cards missing through no reason whatsoever! Hats off to you all for making them last so long!! Though Ive got a sneaky suspicion it could be the missus hiding them when I go out! Often wondered why we never seem to have any fire wood, yet a scorching fire?!

I was amazed at how durable bikes are tho'.
A couple of weeks ago I was performing at the pub and ribbon spread my whole deck thru a puddle of spilt beer! (I was performing ace sandwich.)
I put the damp cards back in their cardboard case and forgot about them, they are still fine 3 weeks later! I dont get it, but c'est la vie!
I use them for practise as I dont mind recking an old deck just to nail an effect!

I must look into this Cost co!

Alternatively, quite a few Magic Shops do bricks of seconds. Well internation magic do for certain