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MarcelP

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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.

I do not have a SS skewb. I do not think I will order one. I just love the MoYu enough. :) I do not have original color, so I might order that one. I like original color in cubes. :) Yeah, the forgetting of algs is also my problem.. Even with algs as short as skewb algs.. LOL
 
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MarcelP

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Okay, today I had a shortcubing session due to lack of time. But there where some nice solves in there. First there was a nice Ao5 in there (http://youtu.be/GTa1XxLrwgY?list=UUIXTiyCxjMTqLy2P_gV5Vxw) Then I turned the camera off and started to get a 15, and later on a 16. So I turned the camera on again and then I had this amazing (well for me..) fullstep solve :)

Generated By csTimer on 2014-8-30
solves/total: 27/27

single
best: 15.49
worst: 27.06

mean of 3
current: 22.33 (σ = 1.69)
best: 17.20 (σ = 2.27)

avg of 5
current: 21.12 (σ = 0.46)
best: 18.30 (σ = 3.84)

avg of 12
current: 20.41 (σ = 2.67)
best: 19.73 (σ = 2.76)

Average: 20.76 (σ = 2.23)
Mean: 20.81

Time List:
1. 20.48 B2 D2 B' R2 B' R2 U2 F' L2 B' U2 R D' L2 U2 L' B' R U' R' F2
2. 23.19 B R2 U2 L2 B L2 F2 L2 B L2 U' L B' R' D R' F D F2 L2
3. 17.41 L2 R2 D2 F' U2 F L2 B2 F U2 B D B2 D' L' D2 B D' F' D L'
4. 26.05 B2 R2 F2 D B2 D B2 U B2 F2 D2 R B F2 R U' L U2 B' D2 U
5. 21.03 F D' F R F L' B R2 D R' U F2 R2 U R2 B2 U L2 F2 D2 R2
6. 19.49 F2 D2 L' F' B2 R2 L F2 U R' U2 R D2 F2 L F2 L' B2 D2 F2
7. 22.99 R2 B' U2 F L2 F L2 U2 R2 U2 F2 D L R2 F U' L' R F' U2 R2
8. 27.06 U2 L2 D2 R2 U L2 U L2 U' F2 U' R B R' B2 R' B' U' R2 D' F'
9. 19.68 U2 R' L' D R F L' D2 L' D2 F2 L2 D2 F2 L2 F2 U' L2 U
10. 20.44 L2 F' L2 D' R' U L D L2 D2 R' D2 R U2 D2 F2 R U2 L2
11. 18.37 D' B2 D' F2 D' L2 F2 U' L2 U2 L' F2 L D F2 D R' B F U2
12. 20.53 L2 U' F2 U B2 U' R2 D B2 D' R' B R2 U2 L B U' F2 R' B2
13. 18.85 R2 D2 B2 R' F2 D2 R' D2 B2 R D' R U2 R' F R2 U2 F' L B2
14. 24.41 L2 F' L' F' D B2 U' B U F2 B2 L2 B D2 F2 R2 D2 R2
15. 18.02 U D2 R' D B L D' R' L F' D2 R' F2 R B2 R B2 U2 B2 L2
16. 23.27 D2 R' D2 L' U2 B2 U2 B2 R' D R' U2 R2 D B F' D2 U' B2
17. 15.86 R2 U L2 D' U F2 L2 U F2 U F D2 L' F L2 D' U' B2 U B
18. 23.54 R2 L F' D2 R F2 D B U R' U' F2 U' R2 L2 D B2 L2 U2 R2 U2
19. 22.73 R U2 R' U2 B2 R' U2 L' B2 F2 L B' D' B' D' U2 B' L' D F L2
20. 16.32 R D B U' R F U' R2 U' L D R2 U' F2 R2 F2 L2 D F2 R2
21. 15.49 F' R B D' R U' B' L' B2 U D2 F R2 B2 U2 F2 U2 L2 B2 R2 U2
22. 19.78 U' L2 B2 F2 U' L2 F2 D' F2 R B2 D' F D' U' R B2 R2 B F2
23. 19.26 F R' U' D B U R D2 F' D2 L2 F2 R2 B2 U' R2 D' B2 D B2
24. 20.62 U' R2 U' F2 D' R2 D U2 F2 U' R2 B R' B' D2 R' D' R' B2 D L
25. 21.20 B' L U2 D R' D F2 B' R' U' B' U2 F' D2 L2 B' D2 R2 L2 F
26. 24.28 L2 D' B2 R2 F2 D2 F2 D' F2 U F' L' B2 R F2 R D2 R U'
27. 21.52 B2 L2 U2 B' L2 F' U2 L2 R B R2 B F2 D' U' R2 U2 B'
Breakdown, Cross sub 3, Cross + 1 sub 5, F2L 10, OLL 13, PLL 15.49 :)
[video=youtube_share;yzi8-P0vzX8]http://youtu.be/yzi8-P0vzX8[/video]
 
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sneaklyfox

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Thought of something that may or may not be an interesting idea. Let me know what you think.

First, I was thinking about trying a speedBLD. (For those who don't know what it is, it's basically a blind solve and only the execution part is timed. You're supposed to figure out with your usual speedsolving method exactly what you need to do and then just execute.) Then I was thinking about how I need to practice cross+1 and even more blind crosses might help since I haven't done enough of those and suspect that sometimes I am looking at the pieces while I do cross instead of searching for a first pair. Also, I was wondering how long I take to inspect the cube, on average.

My idea is two races.
1) Blind cross race, but timing both inspection and execution. After scrambling, you start the timer, then inspect the cube, then close your eyes (or don blindfold) and do only the cross, then stop the timer.
2) Same idea but blind cross+1 race. More difficult and advanced, of course. Perhaps you would graduate from the blind cross race when you're sub-10, for example?
 

mark49152

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Thought of something that may or may not be an interesting idea. Let me know what you think.
Why include inspection? I'd be up for a blind cross race (once I have time for cubing at all - I rarely pick one up these days :().

Blind cross+1 is too hard for me, and speedBLD using a regular solving method like CFOP sounds insane! When I can't even get pair #1 right, my chances of correct PLL are zero :).
 

MarcelP

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My idea is two races.
1) Blind cross race, but timing both inspection and execution. After scrambling, you start the timer, then inspect the cube, then close your eyes (or don blindfold) and do only the cross, then stop the timer.
2) Same idea but blind cross+1 race. More difficult and advanced, of course. Perhaps you would graduate from the blind cross race when you're sub-10, for example?

I like it! I am up for it... Sounds like something you could use to get faster :)
Marcel! We are getting close on the race to Sub-20 Ao100 :)
Yeah! Although I have slacked of a bit.. I have not cubed the way I normally cube for the past week or so and my averages have been a bit worse :) I suspect it will pick up again when I have more time.
 

Schmidt

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I only cube for about an hour and a half every Tuesday night, but it might change soon as I'm taking the kids to their sports from next week. Then I'll have half an hour here and there, so I might practice again (or read a book)
 

sneaklyfox

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Why include inspection? I'd be up for a blind cross race (once I have time for cubing at all - I rarely pick one up these days :().

I include inspection because simply executing blind cross isn't so big of a deal. (I think most of you have done it so then it becomes mostly a matter of execution speed.) The point is to do figure it out fast enough as well. I have been really lazy especially about figuring out the first pair during inspection so I never do it. I don't even look for Xcross and only get them by fluke. I think the pros would figure it out all or most of the time. It would be more motivating for me to see a bigger drop in time.

Edit: Also, for some (more advanced) people who may suspect they don't make good use of their inspection time, if they do the inspection/bld cross in less than 8 or 10 seconds then maybe it's an indication they should work a little harder to also plan first pair. Also, if you know how fast you are at cross in general, this may give you an idea of how long it actually takes you to inspect.
 
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sneaklyfox

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Inspection/BLD Cross/BLD Cross+1 Race

Rules:
1) Begin timer before inspection. Stop timer after cross is done (cross+1 for that part of the race). There is no limit on how long you're allowed to inspect, so if it takes you a minute it takes you a minute.
2) Cross or cross+1 is done without looking. You can choose to use a blindfold or just close your eyes.
3) Submit times and average in this thread.

(Note: I am only having this race in Marcel's thread right now to see what happens. If it turns out well, maybe I'll start a new race thread on its own.)

Round 1 (Closing time: Sunday, September 7th, 2014 / 9pm EST)

Cross Scrambles:
1. B2 F2 U2 L2 B2 R' F2 D2 U2 L U2 B' U' L' R' D2 B U' R2 U' L
2. D' R2 U' L2 U' R2 U2 F2 R2 D2 F L' U' F R B R' U2 L2 U2
3. B2 R2 F' L2 B' U2 F2 L2 U2 B U R U' F R' F2 R' D B2
4. B2 D2 B2 R' B2 R' U2 R B2 L' U2 F' D' U' F R D' U2 R' D2 B'
5. B2 F2 R2 D U2 R2 D2 B2 D F2 L2 B R2 D F2 R F' U' L' B2 D'
6. F2 U F2 B U R B2 U' L' F2 B D2 B R2 F2 D2 R2 D2 F' L2
7. U L2 U2 R B R F' R2 L2 U' F2 B2 L' B2 D2 L' B2 R' B2 D2 R2
8. U' L2 U L2 D2 F2 R2 F2 U R2 D R F D2 U2 R2 F' L U L2 F
9. U2 F2 D' B2 U2 F2 D' B2 D' R2 D B L' D B2 U L2 D' U R' U
10. L2 D2 R F2 U2 R B2 L2 D2 L' R' D B2 R' D' L2 F U2 B2 L2 F'
11. D R' B2 R2 D2 R F' D R L2 U2 R2 U' F2 U2 R2 U B2 U2 L2
12. B2 R2 D F R2 L' B' R2 F' U' L2 U R2 D2 B2 D B2 L2 U2 B2

Cross+1 Scrambles:
1. L2 D2 B2 R2 U2 F' D2 F' R2 F2 U2 L' U R2 D' L' B L R F' R'
2. D2 R2 F2 U2 B2 R2 U F2 R2 D' U2 R' B' R2 F2 U L' D2 B L' F
3. L2 U' R2 U' F2 D' R2 D U' L F' D' R B2 F R2 U' F' L
4. R F' R' U' F2 D' F2 B' L' F R2 U' B2 U2 B2 L2 U' F2 R2 U' R2
5. R2 B2 U2 F' L2 F' U2 L2 F2 R B' F U2 L2 D R' B' L' U
6. D2 B D2 L2 B' D2 B' R2 F' D2 U2 L' U2 F' R B D' L2 U' R' B
7. L D2 F2 R' B2 L D2 U2 R B2 R D B R2 D' B' L B R F' R
8. D L2 B2 D2 B2 U2 L2 U' B2 F2 L2 B F' D R' D B L D' B U
9. L' F' B' U' R' L' B2 U2 B' L' U' B2 U' F2 R2 U2 F2 B2
10. F L F2 U B' L2 F L' D2 F' B' L2 B U2 B2 D2 F D2 L2
11. R' L F L2 F U2 F R F2 U R B2 D2 R2 D2 R' L2 D2 L2 F2 L'
12. F2 L2 B2 U2 L2 F' D2 L2 D2 R2 D R D B' D L2 R U2 F
 
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sneaklyfox

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Round 1

Insp+BLDcross Average: 9.36
12.46, 14.13, 4.35, (DNF), 5.13, 9.89, 6.12, 10.89, 12.85, (3.78), 11.86, 5.90

Interesting. 4th solve was a messed up cross. Easy to see which ones have the easy crosses... the ones that took me 6 or fewer seconds to do. In normal solving I should definitely have planned the first pair for those as well. I'll try Cross+1 later. I suspect I'll be getting either really really bad times because it will take me forever or lots of DNFs. I'm curious to see what will happen there but I just don't have the time right now. I really need to sleep!

Edit: Psst! Also I got my first sub-1 4x4 solve the other day (57.30) which was really exciting. Didn't want to make a fourth post in a row...
 
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MarcelP

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Edit: Psst! Also I got my first sub-1 4x4 solve the other day (57.30) which was really exciting. Didn't want to make a fourth post in a row...

Whooohoo! Very nice. Now start averaging sub 1 ;)

I just did my first round of cross blind and got better times than you. I suspect I might have inspected a few times without starting the timer.. LOL I will do it again tonight.
 

mark49152

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I include inspection because simply executing blind cross isn't so big of a deal.
I'll give it a go later, but I think it might just be too advanced for me. I do all my cross practice blind, but get frequent DNFs on harder crosses. What I really need to improve (more than execution speed) is reducing DNFs. Not sure how putting pressure on inspection time would help with that - probably I should instead be taking more time to inspect, until I can get the cross right every time.

I did an ao50 last night (solves not cross race) and got 22.36, so almost a couple of seconds worse than a few weeks ago. Lack of practice is evident. It was like a showcase of bad habits - watching the cross, awful transition, no lookahead in F2L, loads of rotations and pauses, etc. It's as if finger speed and knowledge of solution is still there but all the mental discipline stuff just slipped away. I guess that's the hardest part to make stick...
 

MarcelP

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Not sure how putting pressure on inspection time would help with that - probably I should instead be taking more time to inspect, until I can get the cross right every time.

No, it's like solving with bad lights helps your lookahead in normal daylight, solving Rubiks brand makes normal cubes feel wonderfull, So solving with time pressure trains your brains to work harder, and to get better.


I did an ao50 last night (solves not cross race) and got 22.36, so almost a couple of seconds worse than a few weeks ago. .

Well, 22.36 is not so bad. I get these too on some days. But more often they are sub 21. I think with the slightest amount of 'regular' practice for you will get you at sub 20.
 

mark49152

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Well, 22.36 is not so bad. I get these too on some days. But more often they are sub 21. I think with the slightest amount of 'regular' practice for you will get you at sub 20.
A few weeks ago when I was practising a lot, a trend line on my averages showed me passing 20 second ao50 at the end of August. So I reckon I'm about a month of regular practice away from that. The challenge will be finding the time to practise!

What's more interesting is the nature of the degradation of my solves. It seems that good mental technique is hard to turn into habit, whereas bad habits form quickly and easily and are hard to shake off.
 

sneaklyfox

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I just did my first round of cross blind and got better times than you. I suspect I might have inspected a few times without starting the timer.. LOL I will do it again tonight.

That's nice! You should post your times. Are you doing CN cross or just white or...? I wouldn't be too surprised if you were faster than me. I haven't done much blind cross training. I don't know if being dual colour affects it too because sometimes I start looking at one side and think it's not that easy after all so I switch and consider the other side. If I were white only or single colour it might be faster.
 
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