Older cubers discussions

[bubbagrub]

Great work, Tom! Were you pleased with the times? I can't remember what you were aiming for...

 

[SpartanSailor]

Good morning in Virginia meeting @Old Tom ! He did great for his first time ever going to a competition and he probably doesn’t realise how many people were watching him—all the staff and comp organizers were coming up behind him to see easily the oldest competitor compete today! So, thanks, Tom, for making me be one of the “young kids” today!

I’ll have to figure out how to post a couple pictures later... My day isn’t done yet, but I DID get a shocking 58.55 single for 4x4! Not only does that blow my previous, that’s the first time I’ve ever gone sub-1. My day has been made at this point no matter what. And I made the 3x3 second round so I get a second chance to come up with something good there.

 

[bubbagrub]

Marcel Peters is from Germany.

@bubbagrub what was your solve? Can you just describe? Niss, inverse, insertions or something?

Nevermind - got it on FB. Thanks.

Great job. It looks so simple. Was it Marcel's the same?

Thank you! Yes, apparently Marcel's was the same apart from a couple of moves the other way around (R L2 instead of L2 R).

 

[Old Tom]

@Old Tom congratulations on your average! I see you had one DNF - especially commendable to be able to come back from that and still get the average!

Thx! Will post more detail (and pic) later. Yes, on 2nd solve I was running into pblms and got really frazzled and brain turned to mush - exactly what I had feared. Clock already showed 8:30 by that point, and I was still in F2L and had lost my cross once again. Arghhh! I abandoned the solve, managed to compose myself (some) and then posted my best: 2:30. And avoided another DNF, so all was well. Or sorta. More later, comp is not over and want to see how @SpartanSailor does.

 

[Old Tom]

Great work, Tom! Were you pleased with the times? I can't remember what you were aiming for...

Times were within my expectations. I'm really new to F2L, at home, I'm quite relaxed with it, but not today, had to fight myself and my nerves a lot. Plus, my LL method is inherently slow. I know what to do about that. This includes a mental shift from "easiest solve" to "fastest solve." You guys are ruining my fun of the last 37 years!

 

[SpartanSailor]

So... the highlight was meeting Tom today. Very nice to meet you and I hope to see you around some more competitions.

2x2: as per usual... good warmup and blow it during comp.

3x3: got to the second round, but just blew it there too. Averaged my 3rd worst ever. That threw me off and had me bummed. I tried to put it past me, but...

6x6: I knew I couldn’t make the cutoff for a mean. All I needed to do was have a clean solve to get a single under the limit. That was a bomb too. Kept mixing up my centres and having to do them over. Timed out DNF. Super frustrating.

4x4: overall bad. But crushed an overall PB of 58.55 and got my first ever sub-1 and it was in a comp. that was awesome.

5x5: got two singles and a PB single on the second attempt as well.

I’ll call it a success, but as much as I practice 3x3... I think I’m going to take a 3x3 break and just focus on my 3BLD.

Here is @Old Tom and me with his original 1981 cube.

 

[Old Tom]

@SpartanSailor, congrats on the sub-1 4x4!

And thanks so much for the help and encouragement, including instructions on how to be a judge, I took my turn there with no problem, and actually was judge for your son on one solve. Guys, @SpartanSailor knows sign language really well, and that really helped me today.

That pic of the old 1981 cube (Rubik's brand): I used nothing but that one for 20 years, has never been lubed. Became incredibly "locky", to the point that when I couldn't make a half turn, I would go three times around the other way. I absolutely was not timing myself in those days, and no wonder. That particular cube has blue on the reverse side from white; I've read that was common.

 

[pglewis]

4x4: overall bad. But crushed an overall PB of 58.55 and got my first ever sub-1 and it was in a comp. that was awesome.

Whoa ! Nice single indeed, sir.

You guys are ruining my fun of the last 37 years!

I realize this is probably mostly in jest, in which case disregard, but just in case: always choose fun over fast if the two conflict.

That particular cube has blue on the revese side from white; I've read that was common.

I was going to ask about that, looked like it might be that scheme. I think that is referred to as the Japanese color scheme nowadays but it was a lot more common in the 80s.

 

[Mike Hughey]

I have two 80s cubes exactly like that - locky and all! Same color scheme. I bought them in Williamsburg VA, not too far from there.

 

[Old Tom]

So, thoughts on my first competition:

Would I do it again? Alas, yes.

Especially if it is an occasion of meeting you guys. First, I want to cut a minute or so off my times, that might happen soon enough, we will see. I set the bar really low. (Or, the times really high.)

@40yearstosolve: I did it. Now your turn.

 

[SpartanSailor]

I realize this is probably mostly in jest, in which case disregard, but just in case: always choose fun over fast if the two conflict.

Agreed. Fun >> fast

 

[SpartanSailor]

Got one of @Old Tom in action...

 

[Old Tom]

Got one of @Old Tom in action...

I really like that pic, because (1) it is a PTPIH, and (2) it shows all the empty seats behind me, because all the others in my group were long gone! It also shows me to seem far more serene than I actually was.

 

[Mike Hughey]

I really like that pic, because (1) it is a PTPIH, and (2) it shows all the empty seats behind me, because all the others in my group were long gone! It also shows me to seem far more serene than I actually was.

1. Sorry - what is PTPIH?
2. Yeah, I checked the cubecomps site, probably about this time, and I was worried because everyone had a time entered there except you - I was afraid you hadn't managed to get there or something. I was really happy to check a few minutes later and find your times!

 

[Old Tom]

1. Sorry - what is PTPIH?
2. Yeah, I checked the cubecomps site, probably about this time, and I was worried because everyone had a time entered there except you - I was afraid you hadn't managed to get there or something. I was really happy to check a few minutes later and find your times!

PTPIH = Pic That Proves It Happened (I made that up).

 

[Old Tom]

Agreed. Fun >> fast

When I complained to my disseration advisor in grad school that I was tired, he replied, "Tired is happy." Best thing he ever taught me.

 

[Bobby Mapp]

Thx! Will post more detail (and pic) later. Yes, on 2nd solve I was running into pblms and got really frazzled and brain turned to mush - exactly what I had feared. Clock already showed 8:30 by that point, and I was still in F2L and had lost my cross once again. Arghhh! I abandoned the solve, managed to compose myself (some) and then posted my best: 2:30. And avoided another DNF, so all was well. Or sorta. More later, comp is not over and want to see how @SpartanSailor does.

Hi there @Old Tom , I was your judge for the DNF. I was rooting for you, and I'm glad to see you that you completed an average after that mishap. After your solves you came by to chat with me for a moment, and I just wanted to let you know it was an awesome privilege to meet you!

 

[h2f]

Great work, Tom! Were you pleased with the times? I can't remember what you were aiming for...

Have you been a judge in Cantin's 19.84?

 

[bubbagrub]

Have you been a judge in Cantin's 19.84?

Ah, no... That's @Shaky Hands

 

[h2f]

Ah, no... That's @Shaky Hands

Thanks. Ha!