Bicycle 125's

[The_Outlaw]

I finally got 4 decks (2 blue/2 red) of the Bicycle 125 Anniversary Edition Playing Cards. I was so excited to open up one of the red (burgundy) decks and play around with them. If you don't have a deck of these sweet cards yet, I highly recommend that you get them.
You can order them here at the exo magic store. http://www.exomagic.net/index.php/bi...l-edition.html
They are sweet looking cards and they feel very nice in your hands.
I particularly like the foil metal colored card case, the sweet looking Ace of Spades, The Classic Back Designs and the Antique Joker.
On an overall scale of 1-10 (10 being best)
I would rate them at least an '8.5'.

[Jacob Hatfield]

Well well well. Of course the old guy would like the old 125 cards-
I mean. Um.

JUST KIDDING!

I haven't had the chance to get my hands on some of these yet. I had a feeling they would be nice though. The only issue that I have seen in them so far...that I PERSONALLY don't like, would be the dates next to the pips.
Then again, maybe you could use that for an effect. Would make BELIEVE a bit more visual maybe.

-Jacob

[The_Outlaw]

Originally Posted by Jacob Hatfield

Well well well. Of course the old guy would like the old 125 cards-
I mean. Um.

JUST KIDDING!

I haven't had the chance to get my hands on some of these yet. I had a feeling they would be nice though. The only issue that I have seen in them so far...that I PERSONALLY don't like, would be the dates next to the pips.
Then again, maybe you could use that for an effect. Would make BELIEVE a bit more visual maybe.

-Jacob

LOL!
Yeah, I agree that the dates next to the smaller pips is not my favorite feature on these cards either, but 'overall' I am very happy with these sweet looking and nice handling cards. I am pretty sure that you would love them once you got your hands on a deck.

[paolo_meza]

wow, in my country(chile) don`t sell this type of playing cards. only sell the most know

[Will Thong]

Question: how is their durability? I know you might not have had them for too long, but do they stack up to Ghost type cards well or better?

Question 2: have you tried them with fanning powder? Does this improve them?

[Alex Hess]

I can't offer any advice on the fanning powder, but I can let you know the endurance.

They hold up about as long as the average deck from Theory11. Nothing special, I'll let you know if I notice any differences.

[Liderc]

i have a blue deck, haven't used them much. they seem nice

[Sam Hindrichs]

Before reading this don't forget to check out the great deal on getting 125's for FREE from ExoMagic - Learn / Teach / Evolve. See details below.

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My thoughts on the 125's

If you enjoy any of these things in your playing cards then these are a deck you should try out.

• Soft finish
• Elegant look
• A deck that faro shuffles fairly well
• A thinner deck of cards
• Smooth edges
• Unique court cards
• Unique card back and card back colors
• A one way back

Talking about the one way back, these playing cards have what seems like a hand drawn back design. Just from looking at the backs of the cards, without really trying to see a one way mark, I see at least 5 marks. The marks that are noticeable aren't just on the left hand side of the card back, which means there are one way marks for left handed magicians on the backs also.

I absolutely love these playing cards. I love everything about them. I highly recommend picking up a brick.

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If you visit The ExoMagic Shop and spend over $30 on magic items you can get 2 decks of Bicycle 125's for FREE*!

*Don't forget to add the 2 decks of Bicycle 125's to your shopping cart to get the decks for free.

[Just1pin]

I was really excited about this deck when they announced it, I thought it might be an exact re-issue of how the deck would have appeared so many years ago and as a student of history i enjoy these kind of relics from the past. Then...... the have to go and put all those anniversary dates all over everything!!!! why? in the name of all that is good and decent whyyyyy??? The dates printed on every card really ruined it for me. To me, it makes the deck feel like a cheap, souvenir gimmick rather then a beautiful, historical deck of cards. M2Cs

I actually wrote them about this. They told me I would have to do a full 1,000 deck custom order if I wanted them without the dates.

As an aside: I always thought it would be great to do a full gambling history demonstration using the different back designs and decks as you move through history and talk about the cards and do gambling demonstrations kinda like how Ricky Jay did cup and balls over time presentation in his NY show(plus you have a great reason to introduce new stacked decks, however I think this would require someone with a bit more formal card skill then I happen to have at the moment.

[JosiahGately]

Originally Posted by Will Thong

Question: how is their durability? I know you might not have had them for too long, but do they stack up to Ghost type cards well or better?

Question 2: have you tried them with fanning powder? Does this improve them?

I bought a few myself and my first impression was that they were WAY too slippery. Also I only took it out a few times to thumb fan the card as I do not use them much. Then I put them in my card clip and and after about a day in the clip they were clumping. Not a great deck for card magic.

[magic_mr_matt]

Originally Posted by JosiahGately

......they were clumping. Not a great deck for card magic.

Just a curiosity do you wash your hands before handling your cards for an extended period of time? I very rarely have problems with cards clumping anymore, I use no powder or prep method. I just thoroughly wash and dry my hands before touching the cards and keep them in a porper clip. I have had these for a while and they are still great for me. Also rotating the deck you practice with daily. I have 7 practice decks at any time one for each day then a six day rest to let the hand oils dry.

Respectfully,
Matt

[Sam Hindrichs]

Originally Posted by JosiahGately

I bought a few myself and my first impression was that they were WAY too slippery. Also I only took it out a few times to thumb fan the card as I do not use them much. Then I put them in my card clip and and after about a day in the clip they were clumping. Not a great deck for card magic.

I'm with Matt on this one. I have a deck of 125's that I have had open for about 2 months now and they are still fanning well. The fact that the cards are clumping could have to do with any number of things.

#1 You didn't wash your hands after eating some Cheetos. Then you started playing with your cards, and after you were done you put them into the clip which pressed the Cheeto oil even more into the cards. #2 The area you live in is moist and after handling the cards in the open air you placed them into the Porper causing the moisture to be trapped in the cards for a day never giving them a chance to dry out.

Those are just a couple idea I came up with as to why your cards aren't working properly.

And if you think the 125's are "WAY too slippery" I am going to guess that you have never handled a deck of Bee or 1001 Aladdin playing cards because those are the two most "slippery" decks of cards I have ever used when brand new.

Another thing about the slippery nature of the cards, If you watch Genesis vol 1 by Andrei Jikh he goes into detail about breaking your cards in and not using brand new, out of the box playing cards, and I can't agree more. When cards are brand new they are too perfect. They will only be that way once. Once your hand oils seep into the playing card then you will know how a deck of cards handles and if you are going to like them or not.

So seriously use that deck a little more to break it in. Don't just do thumb fans with the deck, Spring them, Dribble them, give them a faro shuffle or two, do a couple flourishes. Make sure your CLEAN hands are touching all over on those cards to break them in.

[JosiahGately]

Thanks for the advice. Also I have tried bees and I like them. I have not tried alladins.
//merged//
I just want to say that now I like these cards a lot more. I broke them in and I make sure my hands are clean. However, they still will not fan great but that is probably my fault.