Hello!

[DeeDubb]

I'm an English teacher currently living in Korea, but I'm from the US. I picked up the Rubik's Cube when I was in the Army many years ago with nothing to do and no internet access. I learned to solve it from the instructions (Cross, Corners, Middle Edges, Top Cross Orientation/Perm, Corner Orientation/Perm). I've been solving that way pretty much ever since. I never really got into speed cubing, as just being able to solve the cube was good enough. I started working on making corner/edge blocks for my first layer, but it wasn't really doing much for me. My times were around 2 minutes, and I pretty much stopped cubing for several years.

After I came to Korea, I was at a store looking for cards to use for classroom games, and while I was browsing, I found a pretty awful cube that I decided to buy. It moves horribly and doesn't use the standard color scheme (orange is pink). It's really bad... It's not even fun to solve because the core is so tight. Anyway, i was trying to find a better cube on Ebay from China (they ship everywhere for free), and after doing some research, I bought a Dayan stickerless. It just came last week, and it's pretty awesome. I was back to having fun solving the cube, and I started wondering how I could go faster. So about 3 days ago, I started sneaking around this forum, looking at methods, and I decided the Roux method looked pretty fun. I watched the Lubix and Waffo's video series on it, and I've been playing around with it for the past few days. Using the instruction book method with the Dayan I was about 1 minute 40 or so. The roux method was taking me like 3.5 minutes, but I've been at it non stop in my free time and now I'm back down to 1:40 range. My biggest problem is block building, but I know that will just come with time. My goal is just to be under a minute consistently, and I think that's pretty reasonable with Roux. Anyway, it's great to join the forum, and I look forward to harassing you guys with annoying questions about block building

Edit: Gonna start tracking my progress

3x3:
PB Ao5 Ao12 Ao100
3/11/14: 58.05 1:03.53 1:13.01
3/12: 50.73 1:00.35 1:07.79
3/13: 43.44 1:00.35 1:07.79
3/14: 41.61 58.05 1:02.07
3/15: 40.63 52.47 58.66
3/16: 38.82 49.84 54.67
3/17: 38.82 47.78 51.84
3/18: 35.16 47.78 51.84
3/19: 35.16 45.01 51.84
3/20: 34.63 43.64 45.52
3/21 34.37 43.64 45.52
3/26: 30.56 36.33 42.79
4/1: 27.02 36.33 40.80
4/3: 27.02 35.39 36.53
4/12: 25.55 34.65 36.53
4/14: 25.55 33.80 35.77
4/15: 25.55 31.76 34.34
4/16: 23.25 31.76 34.34
4/17: 22.22 31.76 34.01
4/19: 22.22 29.64 32.66
4/21: 22.22 28.50 30.28 34.98
4/22: 22.06 28.38 30.28 34.57
4/23: 21.76 27.80 29.83 34.20
4/24: 21.76 27.34 29.78 33.71
4/26: 20.90 25.43 27.77 32.04
4/28: 17.05 24.76 27.77 31.55
5/2: 17.05 24.76 27.77 30.69
5/5: 17.05 24.76 26.15 29.79
5/6: 17.05 23.12 26.15 29.79
5/7: 17.05 23.12 25.95 28.72
5/11: 17.05 22.82 24.91 28.72
5/12: 17.05 22.82 24.91 27.71
5/13: 17.05 22.53 24.23 27.58
5/28: 17.05 22.53 24.08 26.06
5/30: 17.05 21.19 22.41 25.80
5/31: 17.05 21.19 22.41 25.16
6/4: 17.05 21.19 22.41 24.34
6/5: 17.05 20.39 22.31 24.34
6/6: 16.19 20.39 22.31 24.34
6/9: 16.19 20.04 21.50 23.89
6/11: 15.07 20.04 21.19 23.89
6/12: 15.07 18.81 20.89 23.89
6/16: 15.07 18.81 20.89 23.40
6/21: 13.14 17.48 19.46 22.14
8/4: 13.14 17.48 19.23 22.05
8/7: 13.14 17.11 18.78 21.45
9/1: 13.14 17.11 18.74 21.14
9/2: 13.14 17.11 18.74 20.79
12/08: 13.14 16.60 17.39 19.49
12/13: 13.14 15.98 17.39 19.49
12/17: 11.10 15.98 17.39 19.49
12/21: 11.10 15.79 17.25 19.49
12/31: 11.10 15.79 17.25 19.19
2/13/15: 11.10 15.79 16.32 18.67
2/23: 11.10 15.16 15.80 18.67
2/26: 11.10 15.10 15.80 18.67
4/4: 11.10 15.10 15.50 18.08
4/7: 11.10 14.37 15.50 18.08
11/27: 11.10 14.37 15.50 17.71
12/01: 11.10 14.37 15.50 17.58
12/04: 9.83 14.37 15.50 17.58
12/05: 9.83 13.90 15.15 16.91
12/11: 9.83 13.90 15.15 16.76
12/15: 9.83 13.84 14.67 16.76
4/26/16: 9.83 12.57 14.67 16.76
7/21/16: 9.83 12.57 13.70 16.76

3x3BLD: Single Mo3
5/3/16: 1:21.24 1:46.21
5/12: 1:20.77 1:46.21
5/13: 1:17.13 1:43.94

 

[CriticalCubing]

Welcome!
Roux is pretty fun and is also a fast method
And you can ask me anything, I will not get harassed. Have used Roux before and have gotten SUB 30 times with it
So ask anything you like
and did I welcome you?

 

[DeeDubb]

Thank you, yes. you did welcome me. Haha.

 

[brian724080]

Welcome to the forums.
Harassing us with annoying questions about block-building? Bring it on!

 

[DeeDubb]

Thanks

Haha, right now my issue is that I'm getting pretty disoriented trying to match up edge/corners without already having the edge/center paired and on the left. Once I'm oriented, I just pull the corner and edge to the top and pair them up using Ms and Us only (kind of the same way the second 2x3 is done), which seems very inefficient.

 

[DeeDubb]

So, I've been drilling for a bit, using qqtimer, exploring different block building techniques (i.e, I start blue side, and instead of pairing blue center with blue-white, I'm toying with blue-red/blue-orange when they are available, then putting blue-white with the appropriate corner, and making the 2x2). It's working out ok. Times hovering at around 1:30, with a few good ones around 1:10, ALMOST broke 1 minute with 1 run, but it was a lucky scramble. Only needed headlights orientation and no perm. I'm getting a little better and tracking pieces. I'm still in the infant stages, but it's going ok.

I tried to post a question in the Roux help section, but it went to mods for approval... not sure what that's about, maybe because I used links? Anyway, I'll probably just post here as my personal progress journal as I move along.

 

[brian724080]

Sorry, I can't quite give you any advice on the Roux method as the only blockbuilding experience I have is with ZZ, which is completely different from building two 2x3x1 blocks from scratch. Your post in the Roux help section might contain something that the algorithms in the forum consider suspicious, but other than that, you just have to wait to see. Also, I found that it really helped to take more than 15 seconds of inspection to plan out as much as you can into the solve, or even stopping mid-solve to think about a difficult case.

 

[DeeDubb]

Sorry, I can't quite give you any advice on the Roux method as the only blockbuilding experience I have is with ZZ, which is completely different from building two 2x3x1 blocks from scratch. Your post in the Roux help section might contain something that the algorithms in the forum consider suspicious, but other than that, you just have to wait to see. Also, I found that it really helped to take more than 15 seconds of inspection to plan out as much as you can into the solve, or even stopping mid-solve to think about a difficult case.

Good advice, thank you. I'm trying to just get comfortable solving. The next thing I want to start doing is looking away more during block building. I feel like if I can get myself block building automatically, then I can start working on looking ahead, but right now, I just lose track of what I'm doing.

 

[DeeDubb]

What a fun couple of days. I finally broke a minute, and got my PB down close to 50! My main goal is to be consistently under a minute, and it's inching closer and closer. I feel like the majority of my time is spent on block building. I can pump through the algorithms pretty quick for the corners, and I"m getting better at setting up my LU RU edges. The final step is also getting faster, and I think I'm doing it the right way.

Also, there are some really smart people in the Roux help section, and they've all been very helpful and patient. I feel comfortable asking questions there. I'm glad i got back into this hobby, and I'm glad I'm taking it more seriously.

 

[DeeDubb]

Inching closer and closer to that ao12 under 1 minute! As I stated in my original post, the main goal is to solve every time in under a minute, so that's looking more and more realistic every day. I'm combining a lot of timed runs with methodical planned runs.I started trying to do the first 2x3 with my eyes closed (so far I can really only get a 2x2 with my eyes closed). Block building is what takes the most time, but I'm completing every solve, because I want to make sure all the algorithms are muscle memory, and also get quicker recognizing the step 4 stuff. My J-Perm is getting really smooth and fast, which I really enjoy. Y-Perm might take some drilling, but it's getting there (it just doesn't show up nearly as often as J). I was shocked when I broke a minute, I was shocked when I was near 50, and I was super shocked today to get a 41.61. What an addicting hobby this is.

 

[DeeDubb]

so 6 days after I started tracking my progress, my ao12 is lower than my day 1 PB. I know this is gonna plateau, but I'll keep working at it. My goal is to at least improve on either PB, ao5, or ao12 every day.

 

[DeeDubb]

I keep thinking it's gonna be impossible to break my PBs from the day before, but I keep doing it! I started listening to "chillstep" music while I cube. It's so relaxing. Also, I got a new Lubix Moyu a few days ago, so I've been working with that. It's so nice and smooth.

 

[Rocky0701]

Wow, you are improving very quickly! Welcome to the forums. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me too, but i will not be able to answer any about Roux, sorry

 

[DeeDubb]

Wow, you are improving very quickly! Welcome to the forums. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me too, but i will not be able to answer any about Roux, sorry

Thanks Rocky. Don't worry, the people in the Roux help thread have been very friendly, so I'll be fine. I'm working on memorizing CMLL slowly, but surely (2 sets a week is the goal). I have Sune/Anti-Sune done, so I'm getting there! Once all the CMLL is done, and I'm comfortable with my times (hopefully around sub-30 average), then I want to start working on BLD. I don't even care about speed of BLD, just being able to do it would be great.

 

[DeeDubb]

So, I jumped the gun and started working on BLD over the weekend. This kept me from getting faster times. I've only successfully completed a 3BLD solve one time so far, but at least I know how to do it. So I spent today working on Bowtie CMLL, which means I have Anti-Sune, Sune, and Bowtie CMLL done. Also, I improved my times tonight after a 2 hour speed grind session. Almost broke 30 seconds! Seems insane considering a few weeks ago, I was having trouble breaking 1 minute. I'm pretty happy with my speed solving progress. I'm guessing I'll have all the CMLL finished within another month, and then probably a month or two to quickly recognize each case. By that time, my 1 and 2 blocks should be pretty fast. BLD is a nice distraction from speed cubing, but man, is it frustrating! It's like learning to solve the cube all over from scratch, except harder! I think my students will be really amazed when I can BLD solve. Another nice parlor trick to add to my collection along with juggling, magic tricks, coin manipulation, and just solving a normal cube (and 4x4 when it finally arrives).

 

[DeeDubb]

Wow, PB broke 30. It was such a smooth solve. I felt really good.... I feel so sporadic though. My next solve was 1:02... Such a huge range of solves. But I think a lot of that is because I'm adding CMLLs which are hurting my times often when I freeze up/forget which one to use. Still a great day though!

 

[TDM]

Wow, PB broke 30. It was such a smooth solve. I felt really good.... I feel so sporadic though. My next solve was 1:02... Such a huge range of solves. But I think a lot of that is because I'm adding CMLLs which are hurting my times often when I freeze up/forget which one to use. Still a great day though!

Congrats! That does happen after you get PBs... I always get bad solves after a PB single and ruin the average. Other people also double their times after a good single.

 

[newtonbase]

Congrats! That does happen after you get PBs... I always get bad solves after a PB single and ruin the average. Other people also double their times after a good single.

I did exactly that this weekend. Got a 34s PB then took over a minute on the next solve.

We'll done on the progress DeeDubb. I wish I had the discipline to train properly.

 

[DeeDubb]

Congrats! That does happen after you get PBs... I always get bad solves after a PB single and ruin the average. Other people also double their times after a good single.

Thanks mate! Good to know I have something in common with Mats, haha... probably about the only thing. Next up is trying to get into the sub-30 club!

I did exactly that this weekend. Got a 34s PB then took over a minute on the next solve.

We'll done on the progress DeeDubb. I wish I had the discipline to train properly.

Thank you very much. I slowed a bit trying to work on 3BLD. I'm still awful at that, but at least I can take a break and make a strong attempt at it when I'm tired of speed solving. I'm back to grinding CMLL pretty hardcore. Luckily, my job gives me a lot of free time these days, so I get a lot of chances to practice. I'm completely off of video games now, so most of my spare time is either working out or cubing. Sometimes both! I solve between sets at the gym, haha.

I can have sort of an obsessive personality where I jump into something 100%. My usual habit is to just quit out of the blue, and basically not do that thing for months. Hopefully posting here will help me remain accountable, and keep me on track.

 

[TDM]

Thanks mate! Good to know I have something in common with Mats, haha... probably about the only thing. Next up is trying to get into the sub-30 club!

You both solve Rubik's cubes!
I don't know if you've seen this before, but reading this could be useful for getting sub-30. There are ones like that for CFOP and ZZ on the forum, but the only guide I've seen like that for Roux is on another website, so I don't think many people (except for most Roux users) have seen it.