I was recently randomly linked to a video of a speedcuber and thought it really was fascinating. I have a mathematical bent and I enjoy dexterity and speed challenges, plus I always felt guilty for being good at math and not knowing the first thing about Rubik's cubes, so just last week I decided to go pick up a Rubik's brand cube from a hobby store and watch some youtube tutorials on how to solve it. My initial intention was not to learn any "crazy techniques" for solving, and I knew nothing about cubes in general (I naively thought a Rubik's brand would be a good choice), so I was just happy with whatever beginner's method I could find that would help me solve it in under 10 minutes. Using the beginner method and a cube that locks up every single time I try to turn it, my best time is slightly over 2 minutes right now. As I found out after buying the Rubik's brand cube, a few of my friends are speedcubers and encouraged me to get a better cube, so after some research, I picked up a Dayan Zhanchi which, unfortunately, is still being shipped.
In the meantime, I'm learning 2-look OLL and 2-look PLL and hoping that, when I can actually turn a cube with my finger (instead of needing my entire hand to fix locks all the time), I'll be able to get times around a minute. From there I'll look into F2L and expanding my OLL/PLL knowledge. I'd like to settle on which algorithms I want to use for each OLL/PLL case but I can't without holding a real cube and feeling how comfortable I am with certain turns.
Just wanted to say hi and thanks for providing a good resource for beginner cubers. Also, a few comments:
1) I've heard some Zhanchi's come pre-lubed, and I kind of assumed anything would be better than my Rubik's brand, so I haven't looked at all into self-lubricating my cube until today. It seems that I will likely still have to lube my cube, regardless of how it comes in the mail. It seems like Lubix is the most recommended brand I can find, and I watched the famous "how to lube a Zhanchi" youtube, but I'm not a DIY cuber and I would be a bit nervous taking everything apart all the way down to the core like that initially, I think. I've also heard some people really like Traxxas and Maru lubes. Are these available in local hardware stores or hobby shops, and are they good choices for someone like me who isn't approaching WR times and just wants a cube that actually turns? I would prefer not to order online if possible, due to shipping costs/shipping time, and as far as I know Lubix is only available online.
2) I also wanted to comment on just how terrible the Rubik's brand cubes are. I don't know if anyone from Rubik's reads these forums or will ever see this, but that cube has been frustrating me for days on end and it makes no sense, as the only brand most non-enthusiasts will ever buy or know about, why your cubes are so terribly made. Since turning the puzzle itself is naturally fun and engaging (even if you can't solve it), that should be the primary focus of any cube you release. I could go through the effort of lubing/sanding my cube (as vids on youtube suggest) but there's no point with my Zhanchi coming hopefully soon. Just wanted to rant a bit about how Rubik's should be at the forefront of good cube design, not 20 years in the past. It almost prevented me from pursuing the hobby entirely. Apparently Rubik's recently released a "speed cube" version which, while not world class, is acceptable for novices and actually turns easily. Why can't THIS design be their main brand that they market everywhere, and that I picked up unwittingly from a hobby store? Anyway, enough of that rant.
In the meantime, I'm learning 2-look OLL and 2-look PLL and hoping that, when I can actually turn a cube with my finger (instead of needing my entire hand to fix locks all the time), I'll be able to get times around a minute. From there I'll look into F2L and expanding my OLL/PLL knowledge. I'd like to settle on which algorithms I want to use for each OLL/PLL case but I can't without holding a real cube and feeling how comfortable I am with certain turns.
Just wanted to say hi and thanks for providing a good resource for beginner cubers. Also, a few comments:
1) I've heard some Zhanchi's come pre-lubed, and I kind of assumed anything would be better than my Rubik's brand, so I haven't looked at all into self-lubricating my cube until today. It seems that I will likely still have to lube my cube, regardless of how it comes in the mail. It seems like Lubix is the most recommended brand I can find, and I watched the famous "how to lube a Zhanchi" youtube, but I'm not a DIY cuber and I would be a bit nervous taking everything apart all the way down to the core like that initially, I think. I've also heard some people really like Traxxas and Maru lubes. Are these available in local hardware stores or hobby shops, and are they good choices for someone like me who isn't approaching WR times and just wants a cube that actually turns? I would prefer not to order online if possible, due to shipping costs/shipping time, and as far as I know Lubix is only available online.
2) I also wanted to comment on just how terrible the Rubik's brand cubes are. I don't know if anyone from Rubik's reads these forums or will ever see this, but that cube has been frustrating me for days on end and it makes no sense, as the only brand most non-enthusiasts will ever buy or know about, why your cubes are so terribly made. Since turning the puzzle itself is naturally fun and engaging (even if you can't solve it), that should be the primary focus of any cube you release. I could go through the effort of lubing/sanding my cube (as vids on youtube suggest) but there's no point with my Zhanchi coming hopefully soon. Just wanted to rant a bit about how Rubik's should be at the forefront of good cube design, not 20 years in the past. It almost prevented me from pursuing the hobby entirely. Apparently Rubik's recently released a "speed cube" version which, while not world class, is acceptable for novices and actually turns easily. Why can't THIS design be their main brand that they market everywhere, and that I picked up unwittingly from a hobby store? Anyway, enough of that rant.
