Okay guys, I have seen a lot of reviews on the Gaurdians, The Split Spades, The Ghosts, The tally's, The Tiger's, The... Blah, Blah, BLAH. I have decided that I will do something a little different. Instead of Reviweing a custom deck or a new effct I will Review something that has been out for hundreds of years... Regular Bicycle decks. Much like many people use Bikes too much and steer away from buying other decks some people may use Tally's or Aviators often and not want to risk spending money on bikes. So for anyone who wants to know if their any good or if you just want to read something new, then read this:
THE BACKS OF THE CARDS...
Now, once again this is for regular Bicycle cards only. Not custom decks, or those weird pink ones or anything.
Standard Bicycle packs come in 2 colors... Red and Blue. These are the two most used back colors on cards because red and blue are complete opposites. In the dead center of the back of the card there is a larger circle. Closer to the ends there are two smaller circles with angels in them. Now, it looks like they are riding on pogo sticks or something, but those are actuasupposed to be Bicycles. ( I wonder why their called Bicylcels?) Around these circles are a rectangular box.
At each corner of these boxes there are angels. Around the box there is what almost looks like a vine or something. There is a white border on the edge of the cards. Here is a link to a picture of the backs of a red and blue deck:
http://www.mindracer.com/bicycle5.jpg
CARD FACES...
Now, obviously I will not explain the look of every single cards in the deck. I will just simply explain the biggest differences between them and other cards.
Well, the face cards: Jack, Queen, King,, Don't really differ much from other packs of cards. There is one huge difference though. The Ace of Spades in a deck of Bicycle cards is very cool looking.
The Ace of Spades, is of course black and larger than the pips on the other aces. In the middle of the Spade there is someone who appears to be a queen , but for all I know she could be the Virgin Mary or something. the is sitting in a chair and there are stars behind her. Here is a link:
http://www.psywarrior.com/UnopeneddeckDCF.jpg
THE BOX...
The box is nothing special at all. On the back it has the bck design from the cards on it. the front says Bicycle in large letters across the top and the Spade from the Ace of Spades is in the middle. Link:
http://www.magictheo.com/shop/bicycle_cards.jpg
THE STOCK...
These cards are very thick ( not as thick as custom decks) but they'll last for a while. They are excellent for card springs and flourishing. These cards can fan well right out of the box. As a matter of fact they are best when take out of the box. After a week or two of serious usage though, these cards will become greasy, dirty, and flimsy.
Also, if you even drop these cards on a carpet... you run the risk of ruining them. If yu drop them on a very dirty floor or a sidewalk outside... then it's almost gaurunteed that they will feel nasty, bumpy, and gritty when fanned again. This is the only place where I really take off some points.
AUDIENCE ATTRACTION...
Okay, let's face it. Almost everyone has a pack of Bicycles somewhere in their house making this deck not super powerful to the audience. However, they will draw people over to you if you do some fancy stuff.
PRICE...
Where I live, 1 pack of Bikes is $3.00 or get a 2 pack for $6.00. You can also by a brick (6 red and 6 blue) of 12 decks for 15.00, whick is a deal considering the price of 1 deck. Because these cards are so commonly used in casinos they are one of the most wanted deck allowing for the U.S Playing Card Company to price them higher than other cards. I actually went out and found a gas station with Aviator cards yesterday and they were only 1.50 a pack and I like them more than bikes. Anyway, I can see why they are so expensive though...
FINAL THOUGHTS...
When I can't get aviators I will stick with Bicycles, because they are so good. I highly recomend them to magicians, Cardists, and Card Dealers alike. My final score on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being awful and 10 being perfect, they get a...
8/10
They only ost points in the fact that they are easily ruined.
Hope you liked this. I'd really like to hear your thoughts somplease post.
Dylan P.
THE BACKS OF THE CARDS...
Now, once again this is for regular Bicycle cards only. Not custom decks, or those weird pink ones or anything.
Standard Bicycle packs come in 2 colors... Red and Blue. These are the two most used back colors on cards because red and blue are complete opposites. In the dead center of the back of the card there is a larger circle. Closer to the ends there are two smaller circles with angels in them. Now, it looks like they are riding on pogo sticks or something, but those are actuasupposed to be Bicycles. ( I wonder why their called Bicylcels?) Around these circles are a rectangular box.
At each corner of these boxes there are angels. Around the box there is what almost looks like a vine or something. There is a white border on the edge of the cards. Here is a link to a picture of the backs of a red and blue deck:
http://www.mindracer.com/bicycle5.jpg
CARD FACES...
Now, obviously I will not explain the look of every single cards in the deck. I will just simply explain the biggest differences between them and other cards.
Well, the face cards: Jack, Queen, King,, Don't really differ much from other packs of cards. There is one huge difference though. The Ace of Spades in a deck of Bicycle cards is very cool looking.
The Ace of Spades, is of course black and larger than the pips on the other aces. In the middle of the Spade there is someone who appears to be a queen , but for all I know she could be the Virgin Mary or something. the is sitting in a chair and there are stars behind her. Here is a link:
http://www.psywarrior.com/UnopeneddeckDCF.jpg
THE BOX...
The box is nothing special at all. On the back it has the bck design from the cards on it. the front says Bicycle in large letters across the top and the Spade from the Ace of Spades is in the middle. Link:
http://www.magictheo.com/shop/bicycle_cards.jpg
THE STOCK...
These cards are very thick ( not as thick as custom decks) but they'll last for a while. They are excellent for card springs and flourishing. These cards can fan well right out of the box. As a matter of fact they are best when take out of the box. After a week or two of serious usage though, these cards will become greasy, dirty, and flimsy.
Also, if you even drop these cards on a carpet... you run the risk of ruining them. If yu drop them on a very dirty floor or a sidewalk outside... then it's almost gaurunteed that they will feel nasty, bumpy, and gritty when fanned again. This is the only place where I really take off some points.
AUDIENCE ATTRACTION...
Okay, let's face it. Almost everyone has a pack of Bicycles somewhere in their house making this deck not super powerful to the audience. However, they will draw people over to you if you do some fancy stuff.
PRICE...
Where I live, 1 pack of Bikes is $3.00 or get a 2 pack for $6.00. You can also by a brick (6 red and 6 blue) of 12 decks for 15.00, whick is a deal considering the price of 1 deck. Because these cards are so commonly used in casinos they are one of the most wanted deck allowing for the U.S Playing Card Company to price them higher than other cards. I actually went out and found a gas station with Aviator cards yesterday and they were only 1.50 a pack and I like them more than bikes. Anyway, I can see why they are so expensive though...
FINAL THOUGHTS...
When I can't get aviators I will stick with Bicycles, because they are so good. I highly recomend them to magicians, Cardists, and Card Dealers alike. My final score on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being awful and 10 being perfect, they get a...
8/10
They only ost points in the fact that they are easily ruined.
Hope you liked this. I'd really like to hear your thoughts somplease post.
Dylan P.