Older cubers discussions

[Selkie]

Anyone else into feet? I quite enjoyed doing it last year, although I found the stackmat rumpled up and got in the way. The other thing I'd really like to manage is a 3bld average, although I have a feeling that might be out of reach at the moment...

I tried a few years ago and failed. Might give it another go

Ao5 PB on 2x2... I was not expecting it, I've done only 135 solves in last 30 days, but it happened, twice, previous PB (5.997) was set on December 3rd, today I first did a 5.922 and a few solves later 5.784. One of the scrambles had a layer already built ...I could have used CMLL, I tried later and got a 3.863.

5. 6.768 R U' R2 U' R U2 F2 R' U
4. 6.057 U R U2 F2 U' R2 U R
3. 5.888 R' F2 R' U R F2 R U R2 U'
2. 4.856 U' F' U2 F' U' R2 F U R'
1. 5.407 F2 U' R F' R2 U' F2 U2 R'

Finally, megaminx ao12 under 4 minutes...

Ao12 PB: 3:46.847

12. 3:27.039
3:35.675
(DNF)
4:25.519
3:47.202
3:51.130
3:48.161
3:37.260
3:46.609
3:29.372
3:49.739
1. 3:37.811

Also ao5 PB (first 5 solves): 3:40.560

A couple of lovely averages there

Here's a nice video from one of the competitors at AZCubing Winter 2016. I think they captured the venue and atmosphere of the event really well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_EF7oLSNsA

Great video, love the signs on the comp tables "Don't Flash Me Bro"

@Megaminx Race

Beginning to get closer to old times from a few years ago. Just did this Ao5 for WC...

5:02.44, 3:54.64, 4:53.85, 4:35.44, 5:21.85 = 4:50.58

@4x4 Race

4 more sub 55 singles and a sub 1:05.50 Ao12 yesterday - Sorry none of film

 

[mafergut]

@Megaminx Race
Beginning to get closer to old times from a few years ago. Just did this Ao5 for WC...

5:02.44, 3:54.64, 4:53.85, 4:35.44, 5:21.85 = 4:50.58

@4x4 Race

4 more sub 55 singles and a sub 1:05.50 Ao12 yesterday - Sorry none of film

Already some sub-4 in there. You're catching up and I'm sure I'll be trying to catch you in a week or so
Also trying to get into 4x4 race myself. Did like 20 solves yesterday and I'm starting to get more solves in the 1:4x - low 1:5x range and almost no sup-2s. Still a long way to go to get to sub 1:30 territory. Around 1min will still take some years, I guess

 

[Lid]

Good start to the day/week: Square-1 PB avg 5: 16.387
Avg 12 ended up a bit short thou, 18.077

Average of 5: 16.387
1. 15.800[p] (1, 6) / (3, -3) / (-1, -4) / (6, 0) / (-2, -5) / (0, -1) / (0, -3) / (3, 0) / (4, 0) / (-1, -2) / (4, 0) /
2. (14.457[p]) (0, 5) / (3, 0) / (-5, -2) / (3, -1) / (3, 0) / (-3, 0) / (5, -5) / (-4, 0) / (-5, -2) / (2, 0) / (4, 0) / (-2, -4)
3. (18.510) (1, 3) / (-3, 0) / (-1, -4) / (-5, -2) / (3, -1) / (0, -3) / (-3, 0) / (0, -2) / (5, -2) / (0, -2) / (5, 0) /
4. 16.428 (0, -1) / (-2, 1) / (-1, -1) / (0, -3) / (3, -3) / (6, -2) / (-3, -3) / (0, -1) / (-4, 0) / (2, -2)
5. 16.933 (3, 2) / (3, 0) / (0, -3) / (3, 0) / (-5, -2) / (-3, 0) / (0, -1) / (-3, -3) / (-5, 0) / (-2, 0) / (-2, 0) / (-4, 0) / (-2, 0) / (5, 0)

 

[Selkie]

Already some sub-4 in there. You're catching up and I'm sure I'll be trying to catch you in a week or so
Also trying to get into 4x4 race myself. Did like 20 solves yesterday and I'm starting to get more solves in the 1:4x - low 1:5x range and almost no sup-2s. Still a long way to go to get to sub 1:30 territory. Around 1min will still take some years, I guess

To be fair I won't concentrate too much on Megaminx, the average cut in UK is 2:30 which seems so far away from my ability. I also am not keen on my MF8 puzzle and whilst I have looked at replacement I will then have to also learn a new colour scheme. I will try the WC plus another average or two each week though and you never know

Good start to the day/week: Square-1 PB avg 5: 16.387
Avg 12 ended up a bit short thou, 18.077

Wow just awesome times!

@4x4 Race

New PB Ao5...

Average of 5: 1:02.97
1. 1:00.65 f D' U f r B2 D U2 r' R' u2 L2 B2 F2 u R2 F f2 D2 R2 D U2 R2 U2 D' F U u f2 u R D' f R2 u' U R2 F2 D2 f'
2. (1:17.45) L' B2 U2 u B D2 R' u' L B2 u' B2 U2 B' D' R2 B' u2 R' F' r' F u' B2 F' f R2 U' D' f' R' U r2 R2 D' u' U' f2 U' F
3. 1:08.60 U r2 f' B2 U R2 B R' B' u' B2 L' D F R2 f r B r L D F2 u D B' u2 L2 f' r' U B' f2 F' U f D2 u2 R2 L D'
4. (55.57) u2 B F2 U' F' R2 f' F2 U' r' F' u f2 B2 R' L2 U' R' f R u' F2 B2 r2 U2 u' F2 B2 R u2 r u' B' L F L' r' u R2 U'
5. 59.66 F f' L' f' B2 F' u2 D' r' f2 B' r' B2 U r' f R F B2 r2 R2 L' f' r' U R' f U L' R' F f u F2 U2 r L2 F2 f2 L2

 

[Selkie]

Just ordered this action camera (plus a load of accessories) ready for Exeter Open in ... wow under 2 weeks:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0182429GS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2MN3WW74QUWF0

 

[muchacho]

I also am not keen on my MF8 puzzle and whilst I have looked at replacement I will then have to also learn a new colour scheme.

MF8 with tiles? are this (http://www.championscubestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=57&products_id=1133) the same colours? Could you glue those tiles to a new megaminx?

 

[Selkie]

MF8 with tiles? are this (http://www.championscubestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=57&products_id=1133) the same colours? Could you glue those tiles to a new megaminx?

Actually they are the right colours. Presumably I could stick those to just about any megaminx, not just MF8?

 

[muchacho]

I hope, that was my plan, glue those tiles to a Shengshou (unless colors are not good enough or are a bit small).

 

[Logiqx]

Here's a nice video from one of the competitors at AZCubing Winter 2016. I think they captured the venue and atmosphere of the event really well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_EF7oLSNsA

Nice video and great looking competition. I wanna have a go at a relay next comp I attend.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

 

[Logiqx]

Nice timed session towards the end of my commute today. 18 solves with a session average of 17.4.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

 

[Selkie]

I hope, that was my plan, glue those tiles to a Shengshou (unless colors are not good enough or are a bit small).

Let me know how you get on David. I think I will go for those tiles and an SS if it works for you

Nice timed session towards the end of my commute today. 18 solves with a session average of 17.4.

Very nice Michael. What is your global average now?

 

[Logiqx]

Very nice Michael. What is your global average now?

Hmmm. I'm not completely sure since I only really do a timed session once a week.

Counting back through the last 1000 solves (6 weeks) it's an average of 18.3 but I'm faster than I was 6 weeks ago.

Yesterday I did 150 timed solves with an average of 17.9 (mindless, poor lookahead) and this morning I was on schedule for sub-17 session average.

I'd say sub-18 is fairly representative. I get annoyed at sup-18 solves nowadays, lol.

p.s. The variety in this thread is pretty inspiring but right now my focus is 3x3!

 

[Selkie]

I'd say sub-18 is fairly representative. I get annoyed at sup-18 solves nowadays, lol.

p.s. The variety in this thread is pretty inspiring but right now my focus is 3x3!

You are doing really well then. Planning to make any comps this year?

Haha yes the variety in this thread has me enjoying other events and not practicing 3x3 enough

 

[mafergut]

You are doing really well then. Planning to make any comps this year?

Haha yes the variety in this thread has me enjoying other events and not practicing 3x3 enough

I asked for advice some months ago regarding my lack of progress at 3x3 and somebody told me that, at our age (he was not a youngster either but probably a bit younger than I am) we have to assume that, if we want to be somewhat good at 3x3 we have to forget about practising anything else. It was good advice and I respect everyones opinion but I realized that I enjoyed more practising varied events and trying new things and puzzles than embarking on a quest for my best possible performance at 3x3. Even if I did that, I could maybe become barely sub-15? Close to 12-14 sec average? Nothing compared with world top class. So, was it so important for me to be those few seconds faster at 3x3 and remain oblivious to big cubes, pyra, mega, skewb... My conclusion was, no way, even if than means I'll never be better than barely sub-20 at 3x3.

Yes, this is my new and longish excuse to my lack of progress at 3x3 Just kidding. Instead of improving a second at 3x3 I have improved like 3 minutes at Mega, more than one minute at 4x4, more than four minutes at 5x5... learned some basic pyra, skewb and sq-1, even had some peek at BLD. I'd give another 3x3 second to improve another minute at 4x4 and the rest.

 

[Selkie]

I asked for advice some months ago regarding my lack of progress at 3x3 and somebody told me that, at our age (he was not a youngster either but probably a bit younger than I am) we have to assume that, if we want to be somewhat good at 3x3 we have to forget about practising anything else......

I completely agree and when I was a very active cuber a number of years ago I loved trying as many events as possible. During the years where I was not as active I always did 3x3 and its nice to get back to being as active and solving as many puzzles as I can. Just need to tackle my nemesis that is BLD for a full compliment

------------

Talking of non 3x3, managed another 4x4 average Personal Best (second today) and this time on film. Strangely, though this is a sub 1:03 average it has no sub 1's in it. Whats the chances of that!?

Average of 5: 1:02.78
1. 1:02.03 B' R U2 r2 F2 U2 u' R2 r f2 U' D2 F B' D2 F B2 r2 U' r2 f2 U f B2 r' L2 R U u2 f B' u2 F2 R r F' B f' U2 D'
2. (1:00.48) R D' r f2 L r' F r L2 F' f2 u2 r F2 B2 R U u f' B' r2 D B u' f2 r' u' r f' U' u2 r2 F f2 u' B2 u' D' f2 R2
3. (1:10.90) r2 R2 B D2 F f2 R' r2 f R L' r f' U' L B2 L2 u2 D' R2 F2 D2 U2 r2 u2 U' r2 B' R2 r L' f D' F r2 f' u' f2 F2 R'
4. 1:05.32 f F U2 r' U f u f U f' F U u F2 f' r R' F r2 f F2 u' R2 D2 L f' D2 B u F U2 R2 D2 f2 F B' D' u' L' F2
5. 1:00.98 f r D2 U2 F2 f2 L' R U' L' B2 L2 F' U2 B2 F2 U' L2 u L' B2 F2 f' u2 r2 D R' L u2 L' R2 F2 L2 U u B r B' f2 u2

 

[h2f]

Nice solves, Chris. I think I need break from bld events and I do some 3x3 and 4x4 practice.

 

[mafergut]

I want to get there, Chris. Very nice solves.
Regarding your PB Average without sub 1min solves that's called consistency
Talking about low standard deviation averages, my best one on record (for 3x3) is from 1 year ago and goes like this:

(19.24), (18.42), 18.78, 18.68, 18.72

The 3 counting solves, all within 0.1 of a sec, give a 0.05 stdev
The 2 discarded solves are not that far off either.

 

[Logiqx]

You are doing really well then. Planning to make any comps this year?

Haha yes the variety in this thread has me enjoying other events and not practicing 3x3 enough

Thanks Chris. These last couple of months I feel like I've improved more rapidly than I have in a long time. Progress at the bottom of this post!

Yes... I want to do some competitions this year. The ones announced so far have all clashed with other commitments so I'm waiting for more dates to be announced.

Regarding other events, I sometimes do 5x5 on the train (untimed but I feel like I'm improving) and in the past week, I did my first 2x2 + pyra sessions since Oct/Nov.

I PB'd in Pyra Ao5/Ao12 and 2x2 Ao50/Ao100. I think Pyra improvement was because it is essentially 3x3 variations for the first layer and 2x2 was because I was trying to predict OLL... perhaps 1 solve in 3.

I seem on form with the 3x3 today... first leg of the train journey home, I did a 17.369 Ao30.

Spoiler

Title: 3x3x3 Cube
Scrambler: 3x3x3 Simple
Session: 192
# of solving: 30
# of penalty: 0
# of DNF: 0
Std Dev: 1.307
Best of all: 13.295
Worst of all: 22.465
Average of all: 17.369
Best Avg of 5: 16.188
Best Avg of 12: 16.747
Best Avg of 25: 17.265
Avg of Inspection: 45.871
---- Generated by KingEn Timer v3.3

Solving times (reverse order): 17.734 16.018 19.103 17.199 18.297 17.599 18.716 18.214 16.944 14.868 22.465 17.695 13.829 17.101 18.697 16.523 18.480 14.668 18.494 19.354 15.404 13.295 16.838 17.437 19.662 20.024 15.919 16.995 16.129 17.522

Edit... just looked at my session averages over the past year:

Apr 2015: 21.2
May 2015: 20.3
Jun 2015: 20.3
Jul 2015: 20.0
Aug 2015: 20.2
Sep 2015:20.0
Oct 2015: 19.6
Nov 2015: 19.7
Dec 2015: 19.9
Jan 2016: 19.3
Feb 2016: 18.6
Mar 2016: 17.8 (3 weeks worth)

 

[newtonbase]

I'm on day 2 of my 3 days of 3x3 focused practice and so far have done less than 25 timed solves in total. Undisturbed free time is scarce and after my son only let me have 2.5 hours sleep last night I spent my lunch break sleeping in my car. The wife is away until late tomorrow so it won't get better. One thing I can do is practice letter pair memo while pacing the kids' bedroom.
My Guanpo arrived today so I had a quick play while making tea. It's quick but clunky. Cutting isn't great and it popped for no obvious reason. I almost never pop cubes. Time to break in my new Moyu screwdrivers.

 

[kbrune]

@logigx

Nice progress! I've been stuck at 20.5-21.5 for a long time now. How is it you're able to see previous sessions? You're saving them in a spreadsheet or your program keeps them?

@newtonbase

I feel your pain. Been there when it comes to having zero time to practice.