Older cubers discussions

[JohnnyReggae]

A kind of a big deal for me in the cubing world .... I've been nominated as a Candidate Delegate for the WCA. This means that it will be easier to have local competitions. At the moment any competition hosted in South Africa needs to be attended by 1 of 2 delegates who are in the north of the country. With Cape Town being way down south they have to travel down here. Moving forward however we can host competitions in Cape Town a lot easier. What also helps is that we've had a donation of timers for the country with half staying up north and the other half coming down to Cape Town. I'm quite excited for this. I'm really hoping that we can expand the current number of people attending competitions by holding a few more, more often.

 

[h2f]

My solution to that case (mirrored to FR) is R U' R' U' R U' R' / U R U R'. Which at the slash can be rotated or mirrored to other slots.

I use it too.

@JohnnyReggae, congrats.

 

[Jason Green]

Appreciate all the F2L feedback, great stuff! I realize I was completely misleading as to what my thoughts are on learning F2L "from scratch". I learned completely intuitively, and that is what I would teach someone. What I consider intuitive F2L is first get your pair on top and separated, then learn the 3 cases (cross color up on corner, opposite colors up, same colors up). That's it, figure out the rest.

I was quite a ways before I learned any algs, even the triple sexy one that inserts in place that everyone knows.

But at the point I am now, that is where I would prefer to start with a new alg first, for the cases that are not intuitive to me. Just think of me as the lazy one I guess. I was able to get started with intuitive and start improving with very little to learn. But for some of these that are not obvious to me I don't want to try and wrap my brain around an explanation of where all the pieces are moving for each case, I just prefer the answer.

I really agree with all the other comments though, I think it's a preference, rotationless is not everything, there are other just as important aspects for F2L, etc. Just wanted to clarify since I probably came across as an alg first learner... I guess I'd be an alg second learner. So teach me to fish as long as it's not too difficult, otherwise just feed me.

 

[h2f]

How I tried 6bld. Memo starts at 3:48. I've added English subs (my English is poor) for you guys. I hope you enjoy it.

 

[mark49152]

But at the point I am now, that is where I would prefer to start with a new alg first, for the cases that are not intuitive to me. Just think of me as the lazy one I guess. I was able to get started with intuitive and start improving with very little to learn. But for some of these that are not obvious to me I don't want to try and wrap my brain around an explanation of where all the pieces are moving for each case, I just prefer the answer.

Yeah I don't think we're anywhere different really. I haven't learned anything new by intuition for ages (on F2L, at least). Once you've gone so far, learning by intuition kind of gets exhausted. Studying algs sometimes reveals new solutions and understanding how they work sometimes reveals new ideas that can be intuitively applied to other cases. Sledgehammer is a good example of that. Once I understood how it affected other pieces, I found lots of ways to intuitively make use of it.

Regarding not wrapping your brain around solutions, fair enough, although I believe it's best to try to. For lots of algs it's kind of obvious how they work anyway, since it's only two pieces you're moving. For some algs it might be less obvious, and maybe that means they would be less useful intuitively anyway. Algs that involve R2 moves, slices and/or wide moves or generally move the pieces around in ways that are "unnatural" to F2L are maybe just best left as algs and not understood .

 

[megagoune]

@Jason Green , @JohnnyReggae - One of the drawbacks to having gone stickerless, I dont get to try and form opinions on some of the great new cubes. GTS sounds awesome as does the Gans 356 Air Master

I am curious, what is your reason for going stickerless?
I recently bought a Gans Air, my first stickered speed cube. I find difficult to look ahead on it. It turns so smoothly and I really like it, but when I use a stickerless cube, I feel I find pieces faster during F2L.
I am not sure why, maybe just practicing on stickered cube will help, or maybe the cube is too fast and I turn faster during F2L with it.
Anyone prefer stickerless specifically for look ahead?

 

[Selkie]

@JohnnyReggae - That is excellent news. Best of luck. I look forward ti hearing about your progress as a delegate and as for comps in Cape Town. I have a lot of distant family there so I would never count out a visit

@megagoune - I think it is down to pure personal preference. Much like the difference of solving on white or black before stickerless became competition legal. I never used to be able to solve on white. I got a few stickerless as I collected cubes and found them better about 6 months ago. Solving on stickered now the borders of black just put me off. Don't think they are any better generally, just another option worth trying as you may prefer them. Having said that I was sorting out a 7x7 from my collection for a UK cuber who doesn't hav one this evening and found a boxed YJ Guansu 4x4. Decided to have a solve and 50.77. Thats a white cube, what do I know

 

[megagoune]

@JohnnyReggae - That is excellent news. Best of luck. I look forward ti hearing about your progress as a delegate and as for comps in Cape Town. I have a lot of distant family there so I would never count out a visit

@megagoune - I think it is down to pure personal preference. Much like the difference of solving on white or black before stickerless became competition legal. I never used to be able to solve on white. I got a few stickerless as I collected cubes and found them better about 6 months ago. Solving on stickered now the borders of black just put me off. Don't think they are any better generally, just another option worth trying as you may prefer them.

Funny, the "borders of black" is exactly how I feel. Sometimes I think that I am looking at that location of the edge to determine its colors, and I think "black piece" :confused:.
I always bought stickerless cubes because I preferred the look. I never really intended to enter competitions, so I did not care that they were not allowed. But now I am happy that they are allowed because I intend to enter a comp sometime. I am just waiting for one happening close by.

 

[Jason Green]

I am curious, what is your reason for going stickerless?
I recently bought a Gans Air, my first stickered speed cube. I find difficult to look ahead on it. It turns so smoothly and I really like it, but when I use a stickerless cube, I feel I find pieces faster during F2L.
I am not sure why, maybe just practicing on stickered cube will help, or maybe the cube is too fast and I turn faster during F2L with it.
Anyone prefer stickerless specifically for look ahead?

I think it's mostly adjusting to it. Even different shades will affect me for a while. I'm pretty used to my stickerless big cubes and black stickered 3x3. I've never tried white stickered.

 

[Selkie]

@megagoune - @Jason Green has mentioned the single most important thing about stickerless that I failed to mention. If you buy a stickered cube and you don't like the shades of colours you can change the stickers and CubeSmith used to and Cubicle now has big business from stickers. One big drawback with stickerless is you get the shades you are given. It has certainly made me more forgiving and varied in the shades I use. There are some stickerless that are far too close but I can solve on a lot of different shades through necessity now.

 

[megagoune]

I think it's mostly adjusting to it. Even different shades will affect me for a while. I'm pretty used to my stickerless big cubes and black stickered 3x3. I've never tried white stickered.

I will continue practicing with the air to see how it goes. I really like the feel. And I think you're right, I will most likely adjust to it.
But, I will still order my next 3x3 (the Valk) in stickerless .

 

[Jason Green]

I will continue practicing with the air to see how it goes. I really like the feel. And I think you're right, I will most likely adjust to it.
But, I will still order my next 3x3 (the Valk) in stickerless .

For any stickered puzzles I do have a scheme (same as @MarcelP scheme) that I order for consistency. Restickering is not that bad if you've never tried. I use application tape but there are mixed feelings on it.

 

[megagoune]

For any stickered puzzles I do have a scheme (same as @MarcelP scheme) that I order for consistency. Restickering is not that bad if you've never tried. I use application tape but there are mixed feelings on it.

Thanks for all the inputs.
I actually stickered a bunch of puzzles because I like sticker mods
I think I did a Ruben King cube, a Shepherd's cube, a calendar cube, a 4x4 super-cube. I also did 3 cubes with only different shades of same color (like a cube with 6 different shades of blue on it).
I don't really like application tape. I find easier to put the sticker on the tip of my exacto knife and place it with the knife.
I bought stickers from cubesmith in the past, but from thecubicle recently. I think it's fun to re-sticker.

 

[pglewis]

Nearly 600 pages of old people? An old nub here, I'll be 49 in January and just went to my first comp this month.

I'm a first gen cuber, probably got my first cube around '82, old skool Rubik's brand of course. No internet in those days but I picked up a book at some point and could solve LBL probably somewhere in the 3 to 5 min range. The most recent new wave of interest kept bringing me into contact with cubes. I could remember about 90% but couldn't finish the last layer and that happened enough times that I finally hit the 'net in late winter to figure out how to solve again. Learned the beginners' LL, did that about twice before I decided it was ridiculous, and then I fell into the speedsolving rabbit hole.

I bombed at my first comp. I knew comp jitters might be a factor my first time out but I really underestimated how much it might throw me off. My concentration was clearly off that morning in practice and once the timer started I nearly went full brain-wipe despite plenty of practice at home with cstimer. I'm unfazed though, the entire comp experience was fantastic. Everyone was incredibly helpful, friendly, and encouraging. I didn't even manage an average for 3x3 or 2x2, but at least I have official single solves for both in the books and my PRs will be crushed my next time out . Now that I know my concentration is susceptible I'll practice with sirens going and someone actively heckling me before my next comp. When warmed up at home on 3x3 I'm currently around mid 40s for ao5, best single :34 and change. 2x2 average generally 12-14 seconds with a 5.52 best single but the first time I ever touched a 2x2 was 2 weeks before the comp.

My mission: I'm another sub-20 3x3 seeker now. I use CFOP, 2 look OLL and I know full PLL with the exception of Nb at this point. Not in need of much help short of pounding out F2L thousands more times. I haven't done much archaeology in this thread yet so I'm not sure who the active old folks are but I figure there are a few active speedsolvers around that are older than I. Anyone pulled up any interesting WCA stats on age?

 

[mark49152]

Welcome @pglewis! You're in the right place

 

[mark49152]

How I tried 6bld. Memo starts at 3:48. I've added English subs (my English is poor) for you guys. I hope you enjoy it.

Nice video Grzegorz! Good to see the explanation as well and I'm looking forward to the next one .

How do you think you messed up? That was one very scrambled cube at the end. Looked like maybe you rotated for a setup and forgot to rotate back or something drastic like that!

 

[Selkie]

Welcome to the old timers thread @pglewis. I too am an original cuber, though younger than you at 46. I remember the release of the cube. Was 11 at the time and learned through collective knowledge how to solve, by 1982 I was solving ~2m. I turned to speed solving 5 years go and never really looked back.

Please do hang around and take part in the banter etc. Sub 20 isnt out of bounds for old folk mate

 

[teacher77]

Nice progress. Sub30 very soon in ao5, ao12 and finally ao100. Just keep practicing. Do you do crosses on a bottom?

Thanks ! As for the X on bottom, I figured one step at the time : as soon as I'm done learning PLL's, I'll focus on that.

 

[h2f]

How do you think you messed up? That was one very scrambled cube at the end. Looked like maybe you rotated for a setup and forgot to rotate back or something drastic like that!

Maybe this is the answer. I cant figure out. The other cause - and I think this is the answer - I couldnt disthinguisk slices. If it's d2 or d3 or r2 or r3 etc. I had also problem figuring out how to solve +/-centers (I dont know it's proper name) when the target is on the bottom. I solved the cube today with 3style and it had 1 corner; 2 or 3 xcenters, 4-5 +centers and 5-6 -centers; a lot of wings. Resuming: rotation, slices, setup. It means standard answer when you mess during blindfold.

As for the X on bottom, I figured one step at the time : as soon as I'm done learning PLL's, I'll focus on that.

My advice is: dont wait. You will learn but habits and they streghten because you used to them. For a long time I was doing cross on the left and it was hard for me to switch. Still cross is my weakest part of solving.

@pglewis Hi. Nice to see you.

 

[mark49152]

Grzegorz @h2f, your attempt has motivated me to have a go. I will try to find time after the Guildford comp. I already watched Roman's video on obliques and am fairly happy that I know how to approach it. The thing that looks most difficult to me is taking care to choose the right slices, because of how you must constantly switch between inner and outer slices when solving the obliques.