Bicycle vs Tally Ho

Which according to you handles better?

  • Bicycle (rider back or standards)

  • Tally ho

  • Both of them are equal and good in handling and it's only a matter of personal preference


Results are only viewable after voting.
Dec 17, 2017
53
52
Hello!I just wanted some opinions over bikes and tally ho.

Which of them is better looking for cardistry? ....Bicycle or Tally-ho Circle back or Tally ho Fan back

And which of them is more durable?

Somewhere I heard (I can't remember where) that even though Tally ho's tuck case says that it has a 'linoid finish' it actually has air-cusion finish...So is it true?

I hope you have answered the poll.
Thanks!
 

byronblaq

Elite Member
Jul 22, 2010
225
129
Melbourne, Australia
Oldschool tally’s were really good but I don’t have the same joy in using the newer prints, they seem much thicker than they used to be.

I feel that fan backs are thinner and seem to hold up a little better than circle backs.

For the most part I use penguins elite bikes because the stock is incredible.

For cardistry, they all look great. Fan backs would probably be my preference.

B.
 
Dec 17, 2017
53
52
Oldschool tally’s were really good but I don’t have the same joy in using the newer prints, they seem much thicker than they used to be.

I feel that fan backs are thinner and seem to hold up a little better than circle backs.

For the most part I use penguins elite bikes because the stock is incredible.

For cardistry, they all look great. Fan backs would probably be my preference.

B.
Thanks!
 
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Reactions: Peter Slim
Nov 1, 2016
76
95
I really love how long the Tally Ho playing cards hold up. I personally prefer the Circle Backs for cardistry. Thats because the circle pattern looks sooooo mesmerizing in motion. But I also feel the card stock is thinner in the Fan Backs. Which is rather nice for, well, fans. But if it was up to me, definitely blue Circle Backs for cardistry.
 
Dec 29, 2017
204
230
I might be mistaken but I believe all Tally Ho decks are printed on casino stock. If that's the case they are probably more durable.

I also love the look of the circle backs

They are printed on the same stock and have the same finish as your standard bikes. From an E-forum post circa '08:

>Mr River,
>
>Our Tally-Ho No.9 are printed on the same paper used on
>Bicycle brand cards.
>
>They have two finishes, the "linen"/"linoid"/"air-cushion"
>finish, and the "smooth"/"ivoroid" finish. Tally-Ho and
>Bicycle are available only in the former. Around 1970, USPCCo
>changed the production techniques of their products, therefore
>the finish names are different on the products, but have the
>same effect.
>
>As you have pointed out, Tally-Ho brand cards are produced in
>smaller quantities, which could account for the differences
>that people feel. Since our Bicycle brand cards are produced
>in far superior quantities, as you have mentioned tend to have
>a less [consistant] quality control.
>
>USPCCo​

So, it's probably some fairly close percentage of in your head and better quality control. That being said, I think the stack of Tally-Ho bricks behind me speaks for my preference. I think they're much more visually attractive and I have not run into as many small production bumps that make them inconsistent. I have two bricks of Bikes and one has edges that feel like a chainsaw was used (easy fix, I know, rub them on my jeans) whilst the other one feels nearly perfect. A deck of Tally-Hos will most likely feel the same all the way around. I'm nearly positive that @Magic Orthodoxy has covered this in a video and I might be wrong.
 
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Reactions: Desert Cool
Dec 17, 2017
53
52
They are printed on the same stock and have the same finish as your standard bikes. From an E-forum post circa '08:

>Mr River,
>
>Our Tally-Ho No.9 are printed on the same paper used on
>Bicycle brand cards.
>
>They have two finishes, the "linen"/"linoid"/"air-cushion"
>finish, and the "smooth"/"ivoroid" finish. Tally-Ho and
>Bicycle are available only in the former. Around 1970, USPCCo
>changed the production techniques of their products, therefore
>the finish names are different on the products, but have the
>same effect.
>
>As you have pointed out, Tally-Ho brand cards are produced in
>smaller quantities, which could account for the differences
>that people feel. Since our Bicycle brand cards are produced
>in far superior quantities, as you have mentioned tend to have
>a less [consistant] quality control.
>
>USPCCo​

So, it's probably some fairly close percentage of in your head and better quality control. That being said, I think the stack of Tally-Ho bricks behind me speaks for my preference. I think they're much more visually attractive and I have not run into as many small production bumps that make them inconsistent. I have two bricks of Bikes and one has edges that feel like a chainsaw was used (easy fix, I know, rub them on my jeans) whilst the other one feels nearly perfect. A deck of Tally-Hos will most likely feel the same all the way around. I'm nearly positive that @Magic Orthodoxy has covered this in a video and I might be wrong.
Thanks for such a detailed info! :)
 
May 10, 2018
38
26
I'll probably sound silly here, but I don't own any Tally Ho decks. Although they look great for cardistry, I like the circle backs. In terms of bicycles unless I've had them a long time I steer clear of using them for cardistry, because they are quite slippery.
 
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Reactions: Desert Cool

Josh Burch

Elite Member
Aug 11, 2011
2,966
1,101
Utah
They are printed on the same stock and have the same finish as your standard bikes. From an E-forum post circa '08:

>Mr River,
>
>Our Tally-Ho No.9 are printed on the same paper used on
>Bicycle brand cards.
>
>They have two finishes, the "linen"/"linoid"/"air-cushion"
>finish, and the "smooth"/"ivoroid" finish. Tally-Ho and
>Bicycle are available only in the former. Around 1970, USPCCo
>changed the production techniques of their products, therefore
>the finish names are different on the products, but have the
>same effect.
>
>As you have pointed out, Tally-Ho brand cards are produced in
>smaller quantities, which could account for the differences
>that people feel. Since our Bicycle brand cards are produced
>in far superior quantities, as you have mentioned tend to have
>a less [consistant] quality control.
>
>USPCCo​

So, it's probably some fairly close percentage of in your head and better quality control. That being said, I think the stack of Tally-Ho bricks behind me speaks for my preference. I think they're much more visually attractive and I have not run into as many small production bumps that make them inconsistent. I have two bricks of Bikes and one has edges that feel like a chainsaw was used (easy fix, I know, rub them on my jeans) whilst the other one feels nearly perfect. A deck of Tally-Hos will most likely feel the same all the way around. I'm nearly positive that @Magic Orthodoxy has covered this in a video and I might be wrong.

Yeah, I had heard some where that they were printed on different stocks. It must have been a reference to the pre 1970s changes or a limited run.

The "in your head" comment is on point. It drives me nuts when magicians argue over 2 identical decks with different backs, claiming that one handles better than the other. Often times it's a case of cheap wine in an expensive bottle.
 

byronblaq

Elite Member
Jul 22, 2010
225
129
Melbourne, Australia
The "in your head" comment is on point. It drives me nuts when magicians argue over 2 identical decks with different backs, claiming that one handles better than the other. Often times it's a case of cheap wine in an expensive bottle.

You'd be surprised how different two decks using the exact same stock and finish can be though.

I've got hundreds of decks that handle great for 10 minutes and then clump like crazy and yet they are all a bicycle stock and magic finish.

Many years ago, someone clarified that USPCC uses two primary presses, the Web Press and another for smaller batches. They also revealed that Web Press decks were the prints producing the fantastic cards like major printers eg, T11, E, D&D etc. and the poorer quality decks were from the standard press due to lower volume.

It's likely that decks like Tally Ho's (Certainly the more recent ones I've tried) were printed on the shorter run printer and therefore slightly lower quality.

It's all I can think of to explain the massive difference I feel. Blindfold me and I can tell a deck apart like no tomorrow.

All other considerations seem to be met eg. moisture control, inks, finishes etc. So something is different between those two presses.

b.
 
Dec 29, 2017
204
230
I'd be curious on a blind deck test between the most common say 5 decks that people use and see what happens. I will say that Tally-Ho do feel... weightier... than your standard Bike, despite being on the same stock.
 
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