That's 3 hours of my life....

[simon the viking]

I will never get back...

Last night I got home from work and saw that Little-un had been rummaging (apparently its okay for Little-un to rummage but I get exasperated looks and a tight lipped 'What EXACTLY are you looking for?' from Mrs V) and he had located a long forgotten Rubik cube.....

I never managed to get more than 2 sides 'back in the day'

So after half an hour of messing around and constant 'Go on Daddy do it.....' I discarded it until he had gone to bed and armed with youtube I solved it (twice) in 3 hours..... (9 o'clock till 12......) the Mrs left me to it around 9.15.....

Yes I know I cheated but even with some geeky American kid showing you how 'easy' it is.... Its still really hard.... so I still cant pick one up and 'do it' but I intend to practise, practise, practise, so I can casually pick one up and say "haven't you solved this old thing yet let me show you....."

And as my cube was a cheap pound one and now a bit rickety.... I've ordered a 'Tournament quality speed cube' off Amazon (and yes that is the full description they do exist)

 

[young Ed]

wow so sad!has the new cube got sealed cartridge bearings and all?
i would love to learn to unicycle and will get one one day and then learn to ride it so well that i cn take it on the road and then i will do a club run on it
Cheers Ed

 

[Shaun]

I was shown how to complete it by a friend of my parents; there are selected moves that get the pieces into position - you just need to learn and apply them. That's the really hard part!!

Or just get yourself one of these (3.25 seconds!!):

 

[winjim]

People are amazed that I can solve a Rubik's cube in two minutes, but if you can do it at all, you should be able to do it in that time. Your muscle memory will develop as you practise the moves.

And what are these "sides" of which you speak? A Rubik's cube is solved in layers

PS. A bit of silicon spray lube will loosen up your cube and get it twisting smoothly.

 

[simon the viking]

People are amazed that I can solve a Rubik's cube in two minutes, but if you can do it at all, you should be able to do it in that time. Your muscle memory will develop as you practise the moves.

And what are these "sides" of which you speak? A Rubik's cube is solved in layers

PS. A bit of silicon spray lube will loosen up your cube and get it twisting smoothly.

Your right about layers (I know after last nights tutorial) and there are a few 'logarithms' that solve it and it is memorising these quite complex manoeuvres if mastered then as you say sub two minutes is perfectly acvhievable

wow so sad!has the new cube got sealed cartridge bearings and all?
i would love to learn to unicycle and will get one one day and then learn to ride it so well that i cn take it on the road and then i will do a club run on it
Cheers Ed

I've fancied unicycling myself.... But then again I'm also an amateur balloon modeller so if I bought one and rode it.... my Mrs would realise that I am what she has suspected for a while...a total Clown.....

 

[martint235]

Now move on to the Rubik's Revenge with 4 x 4 faces

 

[simon the viking]

Now move on to the Rubik's Revenge with 4 x 4 faces

Err..... no thanks I will stick to my 'speed cube' when it arrives

 

[Cuchilo]

Solve a Rubik's cube while riding a unicycle in 2 mins then mr smarty pants

 

[simon the viking]

I was shown how to complete it by a friend of my parents; there are selected moves that get the pieces into position - you just need to learn and apply them. That's the really hard part!!

Or just get yourself one of these (3.25 seconds!!):

The video above is an excellent example of the adage "Just because we can doesn't mean that we should" impressive yes... pointless definitely..... (but entertaining I will admit)

 

[Cycleops]

Looks like your'e just about to waste several more days of your life! @simon the viking

 

[LarryDuff]

Never done a rubik's cube nor will I.

 

[byegad]

I used to be able to do it when they first came out, it took a couple of minutes to do it. I've forgotten how now and really wonder why I bothered in the first place all those years ago!

 

[simon the viking]

Just to update you all..... My 'tournament quality speed cube' has arrived its great.... I can throw it across the room in frustration twice as fast as the old one

(Seriously though it is very good and I intend to master it so I can do it in 2 minutes.... Thoroughly recommended to any sad-do like me who wants cube competitively)

 

[Beebo]

hey @simon the viking , how are you getting on with the rubiks cube?
Here is a short report from the BBC about the 40th anniversary.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-27137284

 

[djb1971]

Can anybody remember the snake version that made animal shapes etc. And the rubiks barrel puzzle.

I found the best way to do the cube was to twist out the corner cube, then dismantle the lot and put it back together. Less than a minute