Older cubers discussions

Gordon · Aug 21, 2014

MarcelP said:
I am focussing on other stuff now. (Pyra, Mega, 2X2 etc)..

How are you doing in Pyra? I am so bad, sometimes I need over a minute to solve it, and I think I never had a sub-30 solve

I somehow cannot get my mind around it. I think I'll have to try another method. Keyhole is to hard for me

Did you ever try Skewb? Skewb is fun!

MarcelP · Aug 21, 2014

Gordon said:
How are you doing in Pyra? I am so bad, sometimes I need over a minute to solve it, and I think I never had a sub-30 solve
I somehow cannot get my mind around it. I think I'll have to try another method. Keyhole is to hard for me

Well.. I am very cool as you know.. so I have a sub 31 official average: http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2012POOT01 LOL Even a 25.xx single.. without practice. I never practice Pyra. I watched the video of MonkeyDude to learn how to solve the pyra without algs. You might want to look into that then.. I am at the point where I want to be super cool like Melody (SneaklyFox) and do it in 6 seconds

But it turns out that you can get sub 10 easy with the layer by layer method and you just need to practice. So that's what I am doing now... No real progress so far...

Gordon said:
Did you ever try Skewb? Skewb is fun!

I have a Skewb but do not yet really know how to solve it yet. I ordered a MoYu Skewb. When it comes I will pick up learning that too

Any tips on what video to watch?

Gordon · Aug 21, 2014

Maybe I have to look into the layer-by-layer method... any good tutorials?

MarcelP said:
I have a Skewb but do not yet really know how to solve it yet. I ordered a MoYu Skewb. When it comes I will pick up learning that too Any tips on what video to watch?

I first learned Ranzha's Method before my comp and even made it to the Final (that sounds great, even if there was only one round: https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2014LAZA02)
Here is the first video of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv_UD5xnYx0

But after the comp I didn't practice anymore and forgot everything. Now I'm solving with Sarah's Beginners Method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpykCxeMA6U

I just saw your video about the Gan III. Is it worth a try? And where do you order stickers? thecubicle?

MarcelP · Aug 21, 2014

Gordon said:
I just saw your video about the Gan III. Is it worth a try? And where do you order stickers? thecubicle?

Did you see that 16 second solve on hand scramble orange cross in that video .. LOL.. (I love getting back to CN solving)

Yeah, the GAN 357 is definatly worth trying. It is less then 10$ and probably the fastest cube out there. It is very smooth and cuts 'everything'. The only downside is that because of that speed it is hard to control for me. If I did not have the AoLong V2 it would be my main. I did get sub 20 Ao12's with Gan 357.

Yes, I order stickers from thecubicle.us. I use fullbright with sky blue on black cubes. On white cubes I use MoYu color set.

Monkey dude's video: http://youtu.be/vPvmoSWfpcQ

Gordon · Aug 21, 2014

Thanks for the vid. Now when I see it, i can remember that I once learned a similar method.
No idea from where, but it was faster for me. Maybe I'll find it.

I guess I'll have to try the GAN 357. I didn't buy it until now, because the round center sticker kind of disturbed me

But now, together with a MoYu Skewb it's $17, which is not that much.

MarcelP · Aug 22, 2014

Some nice CN solves:

Generated By csTimer on 2014-8-22
solves/total: 6/6

single
best: 17.36
worst: 22.28

mean of 3
current: 19.21 (σ = 1.69)
best: 19.21 (σ = 1.69)

avg of 5
current: 19.79 (σ = 0.81)
best: 19.79 (σ = 0.81)

Average: 20.32 (σ = 1.25)
Mean: 20.15

Time List:
1. 22.28 U R2 D2 R2 B2 R2 U R2 D2 L' B' D B2 R2 D2 F R' F' R'
2. 19.10 F U2 B2 L2 U2 R2 F R2 B' D2 U2 R D B2 D2 B L2 U' R U
3. 21.92 D2 B F R2 F2 D2 R2 U2 F R2 D' L R U' F R2 D' B U2 L'
4. 17.36 R2 F2 L2 U R2 D' R2 B2 R2 U L2 B' L R U' F R B F D' L2
5. 19.59 B' L' F' R D B U' R2 U2 B U2 R2 F2 R B2 L' F2 U2 L2 F2
6. 20.68 U2 B L' F U' B2 R2 L F' L2 U F2 U2 B2 R2 D' L2 D F2 U'

Cube: AoLong V2 with stock stickers

[video=youtube_share;iCyjaF7L6Xo]http://youtu.be/iCyjaF7L6Xo[/video]

sneaklyfox · Aug 24, 2014

Marcel, what's your main now? (Or do you have one?)

MarcelP · Aug 24, 2014

sneaklyfox said:
Marcel, what's your main now? (Or do you have one?)

Yeah, I am absolutely in love with my MoYu AoLong V2. After 1000 solves that cube is awesome. Why? Are you going to order a new cube?

moralsh · Aug 24, 2014

MarcelP said:
I am pretty sure the top of my speed has reached.

It's been two years reading similar quotes from you, and somehow you always manage to get faster [emoji13]

I'm pretty sure you are not at your peak. And neither is anyone who keeps practicing

MarcelP · Aug 24, 2014

moralsh said:
I'm pretty sure you are not at your peak. And neither is anyone who keeps practicing

I really hope so..

Like this weekend all averages where awesome. All Ao100's (did 4 of them) where sub 21.

Weekends like this make me feel like there is room for improvement (appearantly). But when I look at the facts.. I have been around 22/23 seconds for more than the past 6 months. Improvement is really really slow although I put in the work. And at my age I feel like my max speed (TPS -wise) has reached. Only points to improve is lookahead.

mark49152 · Aug 25, 2014

MarcelP said:
And at my age I feel like my max speed (TPS -wise) has reached. Only points to improve is lookahead.

That's what I used to think but I don't believe it now, and I don't believe you're anywhere near maxed out on 3x3. Try PLL attacks or other alg drills to develop tps. I reach about 5tps on PLLs. If I can extend that to the whole solve, with perfect lookahead, 5tps = sub-12, on an efficient solve. I also found that learning and drilling more algs helps general tps because it taught me a wider variety of finger techniques. For example, my F2L also got faster after I learned to push U and U' more, through OLL practice.

MarcelP · Aug 25, 2014

If only I could improve on PLL's I would shave 1 - 2 seconds of my average alone..

There might be some strech left, buy it takes more dedication than I can deliver in my life. Although cubing is probably the one thing I love doing the most, I have much other stuff to do that is more important. So with that in mind I do not think I will get a lot further.

moralsh · Aug 25, 2014

Just keep improving, you'll get there eventually.

Gordon · Aug 26, 2014

I often thought that I am at a point were I will not improve anymore. Ususaly doing other disciplines for some days helped. I wasn't faster after that, but motivated again to put in some more effort. This then helped to improve.

In overal, my improvment is very slow. But I kind of don't care as long as I do improve my times.

Today I received my first package from cubezz.com. I always order cubes to work to be sure that I don't miss the package.
The package from cubezz is so well packaged that I cannot open it without a knife or so, so it's lying here next to me and slows down work-time like hell

mark49152 · Aug 26, 2014

MarcelP said:
There might be some strech left, buy it takes more dedication than I can deliver in my life. Although cubing is probably the one thing I love doing the most, I have much other stuff to do that is more important. So with that in mind I do not think I will get a lot further.

Marcel, your dedication and persistence is admired by many here. There is always room for improvement, it's just a question of doing the right things to achieve it. If anyone can, you can!

MarcelP · Aug 26, 2014

Gordon said:
In overal, my improvment is very slow.
The package from cubezz is so well packaged that I cannot open it without a knife or so, so it's lying here next to me and slows down work-time like hell

Well, your progress from sub 30 to sub 25 is fairly fast. Faster than you went from 35 to 30 I think

But I agree with you that I do not really care about fast progress as long as you have progress

What did get from Cubezz? Yeah, their packaging is pretty good. I like their shop a lot.

mark49152 said:
Marcel, your dedication and persistence is admired by many here. There is always room for improvement, it's just a question of doing the right things to achieve it. If anyone can, you can!

LOL, thanks. But correct me if I am wrong, but you are older than me (or at same age) and improving faster. I think you put more effort in than me. But thanks for the support. I appreciate it very much.

Gordon · Aug 26, 2014

MarcelP said:
What did get from Cubezz? Yeah, their packaging is pretty good. I like their shop a lot.

I've ordered a ShengShou Skewb and an AoLong V2.
I've recieved a ShengShou Skewb and a MoYu Skewb... But it's ok. I anyway wanted to buy also a MoYu Skewb. Im just glad that I didn't order one yet.

mark49152 · Aug 26, 2014

MarcelP said:
But correct me if I am wrong, but you are older than me (or at same age) and improving faster. I think you put more effort in than me.

Similar age I think (mid-40s?) and similarly preoccupied with family, job and other more important things, so I know where you're coming from there. I have hardly picked up a cube in two weeks.

I had a few weeks of fast progress recently, but when you account for the long plateaus, I don't think we're much different. I have been cubing almost two years now, so almost as long as you, and just behind you in averages.

Certainly I'm convinced it takes a lot more effort and a more intelligent training approach to make gains at our age, but don't lose heart. Probably, like me, you once thought sub-30 was approaching your limit

. As long as it stays fun, we'll continue to improve.

How's your cross+1 these days?

MarcelP · Aug 27, 2014

Gordon said:
I've ordered a ShengShou Skewb and an AoLong V2.
I've recieved a ShengShou Skewb and a MoYu Skewb... But it's ok. I anyway wanted to buy also a MoYu Skewb. Im just glad that I didn't order one yet.

The good part is that you still can order an AoLong and wait for it

I love my MoYu Skewb. I master the Sara beginner method now. Time to step up to intermediate level

mark49152 said:
How's your cross+1 these days?

Well, after your recent progress you said you did 300 cross only solves per day or so. so I decided to do 500 per day for a week. And what do you know.. my cross is faster now. I think it is sub 5. Looking at my video's I do not see fast crosses, but I do see controlled crosses with smooth transitions. For example this average from today:

All solves: crosses + 1 sub 5, complete F2L in 12 - 13 secs, and last layer sub 6/7

[video=youtube_share;5Git1J_eshQ]http://youtu.be/5Git1J_eshQ?list=UUIXTiyCxjMTqLy2P_gV5Vxw[/video]

Gordon · Aug 28, 2014

MarcelP said:
The good part is that you still can order an AoLong and wait for it I love my MoYu Skewb. I master the Sara beginner method now. Time to step up to intermediate level

Yup, as soon as I can top up my paypal account, I'll order (or should I say) try to order an AoLong V2 and Gan 357.

I like the SchengShou Skewb better. I took out the balls (I castrated the Skewb) and springs and now it turns without the clicking and very smooth.
I maybe try to put in the LanLan springs, but I'm not sure yet.

The MoYu is not bad either, but I've received in in original plastic color, which I do not really like.

Yesterday, I've learned some intermediate algos, but I've already forgot them

If I have time, I'll continue today.

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