Older cubers discussions

[earth2dan]

I ordered a ShengShou 5x5 just because it was $8 on Amazon and will be here in two days. I did not want to spend $25 on one yet, but maybe I'll regret it.

You'll only regret it if you buy another 5x5 right away. I used my old SS for about a year. Then I spent a weekend with my dremel and a file modding it and it got much much better. Then I got an AoChuang which instantly replaced it. Now I bounce between my BoChuang, Yuxin, and Cyclone Boys. The Cyclone Boys isn't as good as the BoChuang or Yuxin, but its stickerless colours are soooo good I keep coming back for more I wish every puzzle company would use Cyclone Boys' stickerless colours.

 

[mafergut]

Not gonna quote everything because lately my posts become too big

@Chris: Nice 6x6 solves. You make me want to buy a 6x6 and not a Shengshou Really need some advice here, if you all have not already realized by my mentioning this like 4 times already

@Jason: I forgot to mention that, if it is the new Shengshou (Wind 5x5?) it is a whole lot better than the old one. Just not on par with Yuxin or BoChuang, maybe not even with CB.

@earth2dan: I also love their stickerless shades. I have a stickerless CB 2x2 and even though it catches considerably I always have it in my pocket to solve casually because I love the shades. And, knowing that, can you imagine that I bought my CB 5x5 in black with those really dull stickers? Yeah, I cannot understand it either.

@David: did you order the Yuxin 5x5 in stickerless? Maybe I can correct my mistake with the CB 5x5 by buying the Yuxin in stickerless. The shades are probably not as bright as CBs but I think they are nice enough. Anybody can validate this assumption?

Also: As they are delayed in posting WC09 scrambles I decided to do another 5 solves with csTimer scrambles. I started badly, adding my 2nd sup 5:40 in a row after my last solve in the rolling average but then I slowly started to improve. I think one week between one 6-solve session and another was too much and I was a bit rusty. Here it is:

Ao12: 4:53.74 - Time List: 4:57.48, 4:51.56+, 4:45.89, 4:34.05, 4:56.89, 4:38.89, (5:48.36), 5:40.25, 4:56.79, 4:53.00, 4:42.54, (4:25.56)

In the last solve after orienting edges I had also all corners oriented & permuted correctly and only edges needed permutation. Sadly I had to break all that to continue with my process of EP, CP & CO. A pity. It would have been sub-4 had I known some EPLL algs that don't affect corners.

EDIT: Like this 3-edge cycle that leaves corners untouched: R' U' R U' R U R2' U R U' R U' R' U2

 

[muchacho]

@David: did you order the Yuxin 5x5 in stickerless? Maybe I can correct my mistake with the CB 5x5 by buying the Yuxin in stickerless. The shades are probably not as bright as CBs but I think they are nice enough. Anybody can validate this assumption?

I bought the Yuxin 4x4 in stickerless, and I can't tell its green and yellow apart (but that's maybe just me), so then since I think the stickerless 5x5 would have the same colors I bought the 5x5 in black (or white, not sure about that).

Ao12: 4:53.74 - Time List: 4:57.48, 4:51.56+, 4:45.89, 4:34.05, 4:56.89, 4:38.89, (5:48.36), 5:40.25, 4:56.79, 4:53.00, 4:42.54, (4:25.56)

Congrats, you won! I'll try to get the silver medal tomorrow or next day.

 

[mafergut]

Congrats, you won! I'll try to get the silver medal tomorrow or next day.

You got a 5:00.xx earlier today so, who won is just a technicality. Anyway, it's been a lot of fun to push myself to try and improve.

I think sub-4 is attainable. Faster than that I don't really think I can get. What does the event comparison say about 3x3 vs mega? I'd say around 1 minute at Mega can be compared to sub-8 at 3x3? So Mega times are like 7-8 * 3x3 times or so? So, 20 sec at 3x3 would compare to 2:20 - 2:40 at Mega. Wow! That's too fast for me, even with advanced LL.

 

[muchacho]

4 minutes at Mega would be like 30 seconds at 3x3, 3 minutes would translate to 20 seconds at 3x3 (http://www.terabo.net/cubjectives/), and not much people practice Mega, so I guess 4 minutes it's too easy, I'll aim to 3:00 or 2:30, but not now, I'll stop once I get the sub-5 ao12.

 

[earth2dan]

@David: did you order the Yuxin 5x5 in stickerless? Maybe I can correct my mistake with the CB 5x5 by buying the Yuxin in stickerless. The shades are probably not as bright as CBs but I think they are nice enough. Anybody can validate this assumption?

I have the stickerless Yuxin 5x5 and I wish I'd ordered the black one and just restickered it with the shades I like. The red/orange have a decent contrast when you checkerboard them, but they're horrible for me while solving. I mix up red and orange all the time during edge pairing and F2L and it drives me crazy. The Yuxin shades have got nothing on the stickerless CB 5x5. If you're not averse to restickering a 5x5, i'd recommend the black one with your own stickers on it.

 

[mafergut]

4 minutes at Mega would be like 30 seconds at 3x3, 3 minutes would translate to 20 seconds at 3x3 (http://www.terabo.net/cubjectives/), and not much people practice Mega, so I guess 4 minutes it's too easy, I'll aim to 3:00 or 2:30, but not now, I'll stop once I get the sub-5 ao12.

Yeah, I don't think I will put a lot of effort into Mega right now. There are so many events I do badly at that it's difficult at times to choose one to concentrate on. I would like first to get significantly better at 4x4 and 5x5 and also start getting into 3BLD. Those are the ones I want to focus on right now. Others like Mega, Pyra, Skewb, SQ-1 I will just be happy to do the WC solves plus some warm-up and see if I can improve even if slightly with that.

I have the stickerless Yuxin 5x5 and I wish I'd ordered the black one and just restickered it with the shades I like. The red/orange have a decent contrast when you checkerboard them, but they're horrible for me while solving. I mix up red and orange all the time during edge pairing and F2L and it drives me crazy. The Yuxin shades have got nothing on the stickerless CB 5x5. If you're not averse to restickering a 5x5, i'd recommend the black one with your own stickers on it.

What a shame! I will stick to my CB for the time being then.

 

[earth2dan]

What a shame! I will stick to my CB for the time being then.

For sure. Even though the Yuxin and BoChuang feel and turn nicer, I consistently get slightly better times with the Cyclone Boys. In fact, all my 5x5 PB's were set with the Cyclone Boys

 

[newtonbase]

Bizarre AO12. First 5 solves gave a sup 40s average, last 5 were sup 38s but got a 29.44s AO5 PB in the middle.

 

[muchacho]

So something like this:
50 46 42 38 36 27 27 27 36 38 42 46

5 solves to warm up, 3 solves in the zone, and already too tired for the last 4 solves looks like some of my ao12

Congrats for the PB!

 

[Shaky Hands]

Bizarre AO12. First 5 solves gave a sup 40s average, last 5 were sup 38s but got a 29.44s AO5 PB in the middle.

That is certainly bizarre. Congratulations anyway!

 

[newtonbase]

So something like this:
50 46 42 38 36 27 27 27 36 38 42 46

5 solves to warm up, 3 solves in the zone, and already too tired for the last 4 solves looks like some of my ao12

Congrats for the PB!

Not far off. They ranged from 25 to 54 seconds. Only 2nd sub 30s. I knew the 54s would be bad when I spotted my 5th F2L pair.

 

[newtonbase]

It was all budget cubes in the delivery today. 2 black Thunderclaps. One to replace one I gave away at Manchester and another so I have enough for multi. Got a stickerless one too to see what they were like and it's nice. I like the solid shades.
There were also 3 stickerless Guanlongs which I got as giveaways for new cubers. They are almost pastel shades and pink replaces red. I'm not convinced by them but they'll do.
I got a stickerless Newisland Lightning the other day. I've heard it's meant to be the same as the Thunderclap but there were differences in the centre piece shapes at least. Felt more like a Yuxin Fire to me. It's OK but I don't plan on using it much. Only cost me 49p.

 

[Selkie]

Very nice 6x6 solves! I have yet to break the 6 minute mark :/

Good work Chris. I'd be vaping after a 6x6 solve too.

@Chris: Nice 6x6 solves.

Thanks all. Averaged about 4:50 a week a ago but credit had to go to Logiqx(Michaels) thread on how over 40s do in comp, seemed it was the best chance I have of doing well. Said it was very motivating :tu

Bizarre AO12. First 5 solves gave a sup 40s average, last 5 were sup 38s but got a 29.44s AO5 PB in the middle.

I have always seen positives in very inconsistent averages. Inconsistency within the same average usually involves trying to change things and thinking a lot and none of that is a bad thing

It was all budget cubes in the delivery today. 2 black Thunderclaps. One to replace one I gave away at Manchester and another so I have enough for multi. Got a stickerless one too to see what they were like and it's nice. I like the solid shades.

Love the idea of gifts for new cubers. I have an old old friend on Facebook who I haven't seen for years who commented on my 8.23 PB the other day, I sent her the cube I used as she was so motivated to start learning. I have a few spare cubes I should put to such a good cause. I cannot wait for my new order from Cubicle and to sample some of the 3x3s I have missed out on over the last year or so.

@Marcel

Mate, I watched you video on the GuaGuan corner mod so decided to take hostage of one of my wife's finest nail boards. Have to say what a huge difference. Awesome stuff (y)

 

[Jason Green]

I just watched your sub 2 5x5 Chris. Pretty cool!

I got at 2:46 on my 4x4 haha. It was all luck too, I had like 3 edges paired after my bottom edges, and no parity. I just kind of wanna get good at other cubes, but I don't have the burn inside like I do for 3x3. Not sure why, since as you said at my age the bigger cubes probably give me better odds of competing. Probably as I start getting non embarrassing times I'll get more motivated.

 

[h2f]

@Chris, Your solves in 5x5 and 6x6 are awsome. I wish I was sub-20 I might practice big cubes more.

 

[mark49152]

@Chris: Yeah nice solves. I find it more motivational to watch people a bit faster but reachable for me, rather than the fast guys I'll never catch

Nice to see so much attention on big cubes and other puzzles on this thread recently. I admit I'm actually quite disinterested in 3x3 these days!

Quick 4BLD update for anyone interested: my success rate has improved a bit and my times are coming in consistently shorter the last couple of days. Of the last 14 successes, 4 were sub-10, 7 were 10:x and 3 have been 11:x. I'm really looking forward to competing at Exeter. (My target is sub-12:13 ).

 

[h2f]

You are improving Mark in 4bld. My success rate in 3bld is also higher and reach 66=70% which is fair good. Now I'm adding a lot of adv M2 tricks and comms for edges.

 

[Selkie]

@Jason, @Grzegorz, @Mark:-

Thank you very much. Improvement in bigger cubes has come very slowly and whilst I have improved recently I really do need to concentrate and follow certain patterns when I solve 5x5 and up. I have to concentrate on the four blue edges first, I have to count edges paired in my head and I have to concentrate very hard on look ahead. Failure to do any of these things results in bad times.

To be fair Mark I have always been an all rounder, though I could solve the 3x3 in the early 80s I never did solve my Rubiks Revenge or Rubiks Professor back then so when I started speed cubing I was eager to learn how to solve these puzzles. I am really motivated by 6x6 at the moment as it seems it might be the one puzzle I can rank highest of over 40s but it is going to take a lot of work to drop another 30 seconds. Conversely I have lost interest in 7x7 and that is for a couple of reasons. Firstly I find the puzzle more and more cumbersome as I get older and secondly whilst the mean cut was 7 minutes in UK, I could work towards that but at 6 minutes I would need a LOT of practice to attain that even if I ever could. I think I will take your advise, once I hace Exeter comp under my belt, and do just 6x6 for 2 weeks (apart from weekly comp in forum which I have just started again)

Your 4BLD times look to be improving greatly. BLD still is a huge nemesis for me and I doubt I will have the confidence to solve at Exeter but perhaps we can catch up then and you can give me some tips :tu



Edit, I said I would do an average on the new GuoGuan YueXiao, not quite sub 14 but close. The cube was brand new yesterday and only has about 100 solves and of course I have done Marcel's excellent corner mod.

Spoiler

In spoiler tags for those who have seen enough of my averages by now

 

[newtonbase]

3 sub 2mins solves from 4 in 4x4. The other was a fast DNF. They were sandwiched by poor solves so no decent average but as I only got my 2nd sub 2 recently I'm pleased with the progress.