Bees are much harder to fan. I only use them when I'm doing a trick with several second deals, I find the borders help out a bit.

What do you think about the Bicycle Black Tiger decks that Brad Christian is selling?

I don't think Tally-Ho's are any better than bicycle cards and visa versa.
They are both quality cards. It doesn't matter beyond that.
I use bicycle because they are easier to get and the price is better.

I know a store that sells them per brick for the same price I believe. I shouldn't advertise I think but the price is of no meaning if you ask me.
Next shipment I will buy some bicycle league cards. They look very awesome I think, and bikes suit me well.

I use Bikes because I can buy them in bulk at a considerable savings.

In addition, I do a few gaffed tricks. All the gaffs I own are Bicycle cards.

Having the gaffs the same as the deck has advantages. For one thing, you can remove the gaffed cards from a regular deck before you start the routine.

Also, most gaffed decks are available as Bicycle cards for a reasonable price.

Thanks for the input. I was beginning to suspect that I've got myself an imitation Bee.

I have not tried the Black Tiger Bikes, but if they are the same quality as ordinary Bikes, I think they would be pretty interesting, especially with all the different story lines available.

If anyone is unfamiliar with this new deck, check out http://www.ellusionist.com for more information.

I think the Black Tiger bikes is a new way from Team Ellusionist to make a handsome fortune off magicians who is particuliar about what cards they use.Ellusionist should spawn another marketing subsidiary instead of continuing as a magic company because they are so much better in marketing!

You all should check out the Black tiger bicycles. They are pretty nice. Reverse black and white. The box is cool too with the tiger on the front.

I am waiting for my 12 star-backed decks of tally ho to arrive, after my mum bought some of them for my good grades

I read thru the entire thread... and it has been most informative ...

what about STRATUS carta mundi decks...anyone heard of it...its made belgium... its hard to purchase any american cards in Malaysia but when I was New Zealand I found this STRATUS deck and its linen finish...
you can view this deck here http://www.bridgemagazine.co.uk/shop/item290.htm

I find this deck softer and thinner than bicycle cards...

I think for the price bicycle cards are more economical than tally-hos and if it doesn't last as long...buy a new one

Well, I have beside me 2 brand new decks of Tally-Ho No. 9. I do not for the life of me see what all the hub bub is about. For me, the T-Hs are much more difficult to faro compared to most (new) Bicycle decks. I think the linoid surface is slightly less smooth than Bicycles. So, back to Bicycles.
I would like to try out the Black Tigers, for appearance sake. Anyone agree with me that it's only a matter of time before BTs are mass produced and much easier to get? Or am I dreaming?
kerpa
a/k/a Mike Miller
Chicago area

I am quite fond of Bicycles myself. I think the familiarity with the Bicycle rider backs is more prominent in the US.

As far as quality goes, the Bikes vary. The majority of the time they are fine. No problems with their straightness or finish. Sometimes though it's as if the printing crew were intoxicated when they cut them:)

Aviators were always very poor for me...I could kill a pack of them in 4 hours. However, the USPCC aparently has changed the stock and finish on them a bit at some point and apparently they are much better now.

I haven't had the opportunity to use a deck of Tally's yet as they aren't that available though I've heard nothing but good things about them.

I have however owned a few 'Bee' decks and LOVE the quality of them. I beat the living hell out one for a month straight and they are still in good shape. I cannot stand the back design of them though.

As far as the Bicycle Black Tiger decks are concerned. Everything about them is the same as normal bikes. The stock, the finish, the designs...everything. It just uses black ink. HOWEVER...The 2nd editions coming out will be using the 'Bee' casino quality stock and will have the standard Air Cushion finish. I'm excited about the new stock being used for them. As I stated earlier. I love the Bee cards quality.

I prefer Tally-Ho Circle Backs. They faro much, much better than Bikes most of the time. Bikes can faro well, but it's a 50/50 proposition--Tally-Hos give you better odds. Trust me on this. I have never seen a Tally-Ho deck that is as bad as a badly cut Bike deck (although I have had a few that left a little to be desired).

Bees practially faro themselves, but I need the white border for several effects I perform. As MAK1179 already mentioned, they last forever. If USPC came out with the Bee finish and quality on a Bike or T-H back I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

Studs are also good for faro shuffles and card manipulation. They are a little thinner than most cards, which takes some getting used to, and they don't last as long, but they are pretty good cards nonetheless.

CVS cards don't faro well at all, but I like them otherwise. I can't quite put my finger on why though. Also, like Tally-Ho Circle Backs, they are very subtle one ways.

I hate Hoyles. David Regal once said that when you first use them, Hoyles are the worst cards you've ever used, and then once they are broken in, they are the best cards. That my be true, but I have never reached that point with them. I just can't stand them.

Some finger flickers like Jerry's Nuggets cards. I, personally, do not think they are all that. If you use a faro shuffle a lot (as I do), there are better choices. They are fairly stiff cards and will last a long time.

For those people who say that non-Bike cards make people think the cards are gaffed, that is simply not true. I used to believe that too, until I started actually performing in the real world (or, in my case, the surreal world). Give your audience some credit, they are aware that any card can be gaffed. The back design has nothing to do with it.

Jim

I'm in New York City this week and a Drug Store called Duane Reed carries Tally HO's. I bought a pack and can't beleive the quality. These are so suprerior to Bikes or any other card I have used. I've gone around and bought as many packs as I could.

I bought eight decks of T-Hs from daytonamagic (don't get me started on the story). I liked them, even though I lost like three of the decks. I would make an embarrassed smiley here, but I don't know how to.

Am I correct in assuming that a Faro shuffle is just a shuffle where you take half the deck and push it into the other half?

I like T-Hs better, because of the Linoid finish. They do last longer then Bikes (assuming you don't lose them). http://www.pokerchips.com has a brick of 12 for 19.99$. I haven't ever done business from pokerchips.com, but it seems to have great prices, especially for the Hos.

Now, this can be compared to my local Costco for 12 bikes at $13.50, but if you don't mind buying in bulk online, then spring the extras and get the Tallys.

I alternate between which back and color I like, but I think that it is hooey that people think you are using gaffed decks if you aren't using bikes. I mean, yes, where I live, bikes are the main brand, but that doesn't mean that anything not bikes has to be gaffed. In fact, if I was a layman I would be more equally suspicious of both bikes and non-bikes.

My lay friends made fun of me when they saw that I had decks named Tally Hos. Hey! I think I found my new signature!

Vernon used Circle Back TH cards. That should be enough to suggest giving them a try.

I happen to like the blue circle back design. And the red star design. Then I got the Vernon book and had a good laugh. The guy had good taste.

For some reason, I feel more comfortable using the TH cards. Just a quirk for me, and perhaps Ken Krenzel too. Beyond that, whatever deck is comfortable is what YOU should be using.

Please just try them and find out for yourself. No mystique involved here. Just find what feels better for you.

They are the same. Don`t believe one lasts longer than the other.

Tally hos have a different feel when you use it. people who say bicycles are better are too cheap to buy tally hos.

I've spent the day going aroung manhatten, in the humidity, and the cards are perfect. My bikes get warped in this heat.

I now have 30 decks to go home with.