So, after a couple months of simply watching me cube, my four-year old today asked me if he could solve it. He took to it like a champ:
Funny how the cube locked up at 0:19 when he was trying to do L’. After a few seconds, he settled on 3 L moves. Creative.
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
Having spent the last couple months consumed by 3×3 cubes, I just grabbed a 2×2 to break up the monotony. As expected, it didn’t take long to become comfortable with it. After all, a 2×2 cube is simply a 3×3 cube without the edges. After about 20 minutes for practice, I recorded this 27-second solve:
Pure Beginner’s Method adapted to a 2×2. The OLL was a little clunky, and I’m sure there are some more efficient algorithms. The PLL was a snap.
The music is Umphrey’s McGee playing, appropriately, “2×2” (from their December 30, 2010 concert). The full show can be downloaded here.
The cube is a V-Cube 2. It seems to lock up a bunch, especially when compared to the better 3×3’s I own. But it’s certainly smooth enough to serve as a fun distraction.
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.
adventures in cubing 