These decks feel great and faro easily right out of the box. They also look very similar to Rider backs, which is a bonus. I bought a few of these decks to match some gimmicked cards that I bought from Penguin.

While everyone is entitled to their opinion...I personally like Maiden back design better because they look more like real Bicycle Rider back playing cards than the Mandolin back design does.

So, I guess each magician needs to decide what is best for them and their work environment :-)

PS: Hopefully USCC will change their policy and allow magicians to make gaff cards using traditional Rider Back cards again in the future.

Probably the best thing ever made.

After using these ive come to realize these arent a normal bike stock. They have a more durable feel around the premium/bee range. Would like to say there closer to aristocrat. And they are traditional cut which is a huge plus

These unmarked versions of the $5 marked Maiden decks are great for practice, crafting gaffs, and being able to let the spectator keep their card. But they handle slightly differently - they felt crunchy, it was difficult to shuffle, even a different feel just cutting the deck or dribbling the cards. When I tried a Faro shuffle the reason became obvious: these cards are cut backwards, the opposite of how the marked version of these cards are cut.

Bicycle switched to 'modern cut' some years back, but since then consumer demand for 'traditionally-cut' cards has been high in the custom/magic/cardistry market, and I haven't held a deck of modern-cut cards since 2017 or so. Which means these cards are also cut opposite to every deck of Bicycle cards I have.

I suspect that is the point: custom cards are made to whatever quality the customer is willing to pay for, and these decks were made to be inexpensive. Aside from the cut, they are great: the same finish and weight as the marked cards.

I like the Mandolin backs better