RIP Rubik's cube

Oh yes, the time pressure is real.
Run the clock but ignore the clock.

Also, 1:40 is great!

That's the point at which times will start to tumble and sub minute becomes very doable.

It's also quite a good point to start learning some last layer algorithms if you haven't already.

My recommendation would be to aim to learn two-look OLL, so that you can :

1) make a last layer cross from any state with one of two different algs (F- sexy- F' and WideF-sexy WideF')

2) Solve all the cross OLL variants with memorised algs. (There aren't TOO many, just pick a couple to begin with, you probably already know Sune, from the beginners method).

Alternatively, concentrate on PLL, starting with learning T Perm.

Learning algs is quite personal, but for me it comes down to :

i) Read notation and do it slowly.

iI) Figure out a decent set of hand positions, finger tricks and rotations that make the alg efficient and "flowing".

iii) Repeat, with increasing speed until muscle memory takes over from "alphabet" or "face turning" memory.

iv) Repeat ad infinitum using muscle memory.

I really can't recall any of the hundred or so algs I know, as sequences of notation or face turns. I only think of them as sequences of motions of my hands, fingers and wrists.

Cubeskills.com has great OLL and PLL algorithm pdfs. Some of the algs have been superceded by better modern ones, but for the majority these are great to start with.

Note, that the OLL pdf has ALL the OLL algs, not just the 2-look ones. Don't be intimidated. (I have never learnt full OLL and I have a PB of 23 seconds)

thanks, I'll do some reading

I really need to learn the notation properly, pausing and rewinding youtube videos isn't going to work if there are a bunch of new algorithms to learn.

It's super easy once you actually learn it.

Where videos are good is for finger tricks and hand positions.

just tried 5 in a row against the clock on cstimer.org (thanks for the link @mashton )

i get in a proper panic when timing, i can solve much faster when i'm just messing around!

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2nd go slightly better. at least i completed all of the solves this time!

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I've been slowly but surely making progress. My kids taught me how to solve a Rubik's using the beginner method (~2mins), but have since made steps to reduce time. I am currently practicing F2L and it's starting to make sense!

The phantom cube became unbearable—the edges would fly out when moving quickly (even lightly), so I bought a magnetic MoYu one, to add to the list of random cubes we have at home.