I guess the F2L practice is starting to pay off. I just got this 51-second solve, using F2L. My personal best to date, which means that (on a good day) my F2L times have converged with my Beginner’s Method times.
After achieving two sub-minute personal bests last week, I feared that they perhaps were flukes. The off-camera aspect irked me, as well. So, donning the GoPro, I gave it another shot last night and logged three sub-minute solves:
At 52, 58, and 58 seconds, these were the best 3 of 5 — after tossing out a sixth lucky solve (with OLL solving the cube completely). I wound up with a 60.8 second 5-solve average. I actually was on pace for a sub-50 solve when my F-II popped. Bummer. All three recorded solves were on a sticklerless Dayan Zhanchi.
Soundtrack by the John Coltrane Quartet (“Afro Blue” from Live at Birdland) — with McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison, one of jazz’ all-time great lineups. Continue reading
Lately, my morning routine at work (about 7:20-7:25) has me shaking off the cobwebs with a freshly-brewed dopio and a couple cube solves. I haven’t timed myself in a couple weeks, as I’ve concentrated instead on more advanced techniques. But, for some reason this morning, I decided to load cubetimer.com. Suddenly, I logged my two personal bests:
I first logged a 52-second solve with a black Dayan Zhanchi, shaving a full 17 seconds of my previous record. Then, pressing my luck, I logged a 58-second solve on a stickerless Dayan LunHui (my new favorite cube).
These were using the advanced cross technique about which I just wrote, but otherwise basic Beginner’s Method. No F2L.
Sure is flat up here. I think they call these here parts plateaus. Another 1:09 solve following these two the other day. I have a couple 1:03s off-video, but 1:09 remains my on-video personal best.
I normally cube from the safety of my couch or bed. And, in those controlled environments, I’m still stuck at just over 1 minute. This guy pulled off a 35-second solve while free falling.
Goodonya, mate.
adventures in cubing 