Older cubers discussions

[mark49152]

Thanks everyone for all the congrats and everything on this thread. I'm just catching up after getting home. It was a great comp, way more PBs than I expected, and I met my goals in my focus events, 4x4 and 4BLD. And great to meet up with Andy and Chris. Sorry Andy, I left early but didn't see you around to shake your hand again.

Funny comp incident: My 3x3 first round started with a 35 second disaster and ended with a PB average. And round two started with a 15.64 single, PB by about about 1.4 seconds, then went sharply downhill to an emphatic DNF average. Moral of the story, never take first solve as predicting your form for the round

Focus events for London? Probably 3BLD and MBLD, and give the sighted events a break. I'm happy with all my sighted PBs now, and not confident I can give myself a good chance of beating any of those with only a month of practice. My 3x3 average is the one that's most beatable, but that would be through better composure and luck, rather than practice.

@Mark, I didn't realise you had uploaded your 4BLD, have a link as I dont think I am subscribed.

I haven't published it yet, so maybe Mike means the video I took at home. I have been exercising my new movie maker skills on the Exeter footage and did upload to Youtube earlier, but then before publishing, I noticed I put the wrong time in a video caption . Too tired. Will upload again tomorrow

 

[Jason Green]

Technically Niklas does a 3 cycle like an A-perm (twisting the same corners simultaneously) but from the beginners point of view it just swaps two corners and spins the U layer. The way i recognise the CP case is to look for two matching corner stickers (non U colour), AUF so they are above the corresponding side then look which corners need to be swapped.
Once you know which cornrrs need to be swapped just AUF and do Niklas.

BTW. How much practice would you say you get Jason?

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

It's hard to say on average. Some nights like tonight when I bowl I may not get any because I'm tired. Some weekends when I'm home with the boys I might get 4 or 5 hours or more each day?

If I had to guess I'd put it at 2 hours a day average. If I pick it up after kids are asleep like normally I do, it's usually at least 1.5 hours even if I think I'll keep it brief.

 

[Logiqx]

It's hard to say on average. Some nights like tonight when I bowl I may not get any because I'm tired. Some weekends when I'm home with the boys I might get 4 or 5 hours or more each day?

If I had to guess I'd put it at 2 hours a day average. If I pick it up after kids are asleep like normally I do, it's usually at least 1.5 hours even if I think I'll keep it brief.

I think there may be some jealous people on this thread.

In comparison to your progress, it took me 2.5 years to get to 23s global, probably averaging 45-60 mins a day (some days none, some days more).

Hopefully I can keep up my current routine to keep improving. it seems there is no substitute for practice.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

 

[h2f]

@Jason, I had an ao100 around 23 seconds in the middle of last year after two years of practice. You're improving fast.

 

[mafergut]

@Jason: In my case, after 1 year of practise, my PB Ao100 was a bit over 24 seconds with 25 sec being the norm. PB Ao5 was around 20.80. Funny that my PB single was 12.49, which almost took another year to beat
It took a bit over 2 years to start getting sub-20 Ao100s once in a while and now, after 2,5 years I assume I could get sub-20 average most of the time but I don't know because with such a diversity of events I have not done a proper Ao100 in more than 1 month.
So, I agree with the guys, you are improving quite fast. At least significantly faster than most if not all of us over 40.

 

[newtonbase]

I think there may be some jealous people on this thread.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

I think you might be right!

But, this Thursday I have a day trip to Glasgow to see my Gran so I get a good 4 hours of airport/flying time to cube. Also, my cubing nephew will be there so I get to cube with him too. I'll be teaching him 4x4.

 

[Logiqx]

Super excited about todays times!

Ao5=15.00, Ao12=15.87, Ao25=16.41

Edit: That's 0.6-0.7 faster than my previous PBs for Ao5 and Ao12.

Spoiler

Title: 3x3x3 Cube
Scrambler: 3x3x3 Simple
Session: 202
# of solving: 25
# of penalty: 0
# of DNF: 0
Std Dev: 1.439
Best of all: 12.998
Worst of all: 19.281
Average of all: 16.415
Best Avg of 5: 15.008
Best Avg of 12: 15.870
Best Avg of 25: 16.415
Avg of Inspection: 1185:56.091
---- Generated by KingEn Timer v3.3

Solving times: 18.595 15.804 15.883 18.706 16.120 17.640 16.718 16.997 19.281 16.111 15.090 12.998 19.131 16.982 16.379 17.686 14.808 15.071 16.878 15.147 14.657 18.261 16.729 13.802 14.368

 

[mafergut]

@Michael: Wow! Talking about fast progress...

 

[Logiqx]

@Michael: Wow! Talking about fast progress...

Today was a good day for my lookahead. I'm keen to get closer to Chris and stay ahead of Jason. You guys are great motivators.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

 

[Shaky Hands]

And great to meet up with Andy and Chris. Sorry Andy, I left early but didn't see you around to shake your hand again.

No worries Mark. Hope you had a good trip back. See you in London.

 

[mark49152]

Yeah that is awesome progress, Mike and Jason. I watched Chris's 3x3 video from Exeter and that's a lesson in smooth, steady turning as well. I will need to change my 3x3 approach to catch up with you guys .

Nice 5x5 solves as well Chris - and Andy, I see they entered your 5x5 times so you now have official WCA results, nice! Big improvement in 3x3 and 2x2 averages as well. Congrats to both on the PBs.

Also thanks Mike for updating the wrinkly rankings.

Meanwhile, here's my 4BLD...

 

[h2f]

@Mike, Great times. Congrats! Sub-15 very soon.

@Marki, Awsome. I have no words: good memo time and nice execution with fixing mistakes and only few pauses.

 

[mafergut]

Today was a good day for my lookahead. I'm keen to get closer to Chris and stay ahead of Jason. You guys are great motivators.

That's a good sign. I find lately that when my lookahead seems to be nice my fingers don't want to obey and I lock up a lot and when my fingers are fine then it's my lookahead that's missing. Anyway, I'll have to be patient and keep practising.

Meanwhile, here's my 4BLD...

So nice, Mark. Without those mistakes (incredible that you could undo them and end up with a solved cube!!!) it could have been sub-8 or close. What was your race target time here in the thread? Sub-7? It certainly feels attainable for you. Great job!

 

[Shaky Hands]

Andy, I see they entered your 5x5 times so you now have official WCA results, nice! Big improvement in 3x3 and 2x2 averages as well. Congrats to both on the PBs.

Thanks, I'm wondering if I should have stood up for my 5x5 and 3x3 solves on Sunday like I did for 4x4 and 2x2 on Saturday. As despite the 4x4 pop making me DNF on 2nd solve I found this easier with the table setup.

Very happy with my 4x4 progression. Should be able to make the average cut on this in the future.

For 2x2 I've done no practice so I think the improvement is just a result of luckier solves this time. My slowest solve (the 5th one) was as I only know one of the 2x2 PLL's. Will learn the other for the next comp, shouldn't be too hard. 2x2 just doesn't really inspire me.

5x5 I can do much better although nice to have a time registered anyway. I warned the judge he'd probably want a chair for one of my solves and thanked him for his patience at the end of it!

If my 3x3 average hadn't improved I'd have questioned what was going wrong with me in comps. Wasn't really expecting to beat the single at comp although I've beaten it by 7 seconds at home.

Meanwhile, here's my 4BLD...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjafVw0heyE

Very impressive. Were you aware of the judge change during this or was it a surprise when you took the BF off?

 

[Selkie]

I think you might be right!

But, this Thursday I have a day trip to Glasgow to see my Gran so I get a good 4 hours of airport/flying time to cube. Also, my cubing nephew will be there so I get to cube with him too. I'll be teaching him 4x4.

Cubing on a plane gets more strange looks than the train. I am regularly in Glasgow on business and always take the opportunity of cubing in flight Also have a couple of days trips to London in next fortnight, both my train so hopefully some extra practice time.

Super excited about todays times!

Ao5=15.00, Ao12=15.87, Ao25=16.41

Edit: That's 0.6-0.7 faster than my previous PBs for Ao5 and Ao12.

Just wow sir, that is amazing progress. Simply awesome, you'll be overtaking me in no time at this rate

Yeah that is awesome progress, Mike and Jason. I watched Chris's 3x3 video from Exeter and that's a lesson in smooth, steady turning as well. I will need to change my 3x3 approach to catch up with you guys .

Nice 5x5 solves as well Chris - and Andy, I see they entered your 5x5 times so you now have official WCA results, nice! Big improvement in 3x3 and 2x2 averages as well. Congrats to both on the PBs.

Also thanks Mike for updating the wrinkly rankings.

Meanwhile, here's my 4BLD...

I tried a higher TPS approach for round 1 and got the disappointing 18.02 average so felt i had to slow it down for round two. Second round was pleasing and thanks for the kind words Mark. Lots of lock up on last layer algs though, wanting to be self critical.

Awesome solves, I was looking from the next table whilst judging big BLD. 4x4 BLD seems mind blowing enough but then to have the ability to back track errors. awesome mate :tu

Thanks, I'm wondering if I should have stood up for my 5x5 and 3x3 solves on Sunday like I did for 4x4 and 2x2 on Saturday. As despite the 4x4 pop making me DNF on 2nd solve I found this easier with the table setup.

Very happy with my 4x4 progression. Should be able to make the average cut on this in the future.

Said at the time if the judge didnt DNF then it would stand and really pleased you got it official. I'm sure you can make clock average cut next time too :tu


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

I am currently working on:-

5x5 Hoya Method - Wow love the method and sub 2:45 already. Don't think I will switch before London but definitely after

First Pair Tracking - Trying to work on the tracking of the first pair to get more fluidity from cross

 

[muchacho]

Super excited about todays times!

Ao5=15.00, Ao12=15.87, Ao25=16.41

Edit: That's 0.6-0.7 faster than my previous PBs for Ao5 and Ao12.

Wow! One should improve slower the faster he is, but it doesn't look like that's your case.

 

[Logiqx]

Wow! One should improve slower the faster he is, but it doesn't look like that's your case.

Thanks. I think I've said this before but two things have significantly changed in the past few months.

My practice time has doubled and whilst trying to keep the noise down, I can focus on efficiency / lookahead and trying new things during my cross / F2L.

It's interesting to see how someone's rate of improvement can change so much with more / better practice.

 

[Lid]

A package arrived today, with SS Gigaminx, CB G4 4x4 & GuanSu 4x4.

So here are my new Minx & Stickerless "armys"
Need a 2x2 (maybe I'll get the new QiYi Cavs), plus a 6x6 (not getting the pink AoShi ...) to complete the "set".

http://imgur.com/a/tllmW

Megaminxes: DaYan Ridged, SS Gigaminx, YuHu, 2nd row; DaYan with mf8 tiles, 2x Mefferts.
SL: YuHu, AoFu, YuXin, CBoys, CBoys, YuXin, QiYi, 2nd row; QiYi, AoLong, QiYi, QiYi, AoLong, GuoGuan, HuaLong, LingYun.

 

[muchacho]

I wish I were not color blind to those greens or there were more colors to choose from, then mines would be also all stickerless.

Do you prefer a Dayan with ridges or with tiles?

 

[mafergut]

@Stefan: Wow! The stickerless fever is so contagious. Maybe I will get that illness as well I'm sure you'll love your SS Giga. I have also heard news about the QiYi Cavs 2x2 and I'm certainly willing to try it as a proper backup main to my Dayan (who knows, maybe even be my new main?) but it's a bit cheap so I'm not sure. If you buy it please tell us how it performs. If it's not good, Dayan also makes the Zhanchi 2x2 in stickerless, even though the shades are not beautiful

Also, maybe I'll make another 2x2 video this week. I liked the 1st scramble in the weekly comp #14 My time, though, should have been a bit better but I'm not complaining about 2nd week in a row with a sub-5 average at 2x2.

Tip: Full 1-look possible on 2nd try (not when I timed it for the WC). I wish I had gotten this scramble for 2BLD, I could have beaten my 2BLD PB by... a lot by solving with Ortega instead of with OP