WitEden Roadblock cube v1

WitEden Roadblock cube v1

The first puzzle in WitEden's Roadblock series. From the outside it looks like an ordinary cube of about 57.5 mm, but its layers are not evenly spaced. When layers of different widths line up next to each other, some moves get blocked. That's where the name comes from: you run into one "roadblock" after another practically throughout the whole solve. WitEden Roadblock cube v1 is a cube-shaped bandaged puzzle with a black body and no magnets.

How to solve it

If you can solve a 5x5 cube, you already have most of the knowledge you need. In its guide, WitEden describes the solution as solving a 5x5, preceded by getting the cube into a position where the blocked layers can turn. Users compare the Roadblock I to a 5x5 with bandaged centers. So the challenge isn't new algorithms, but finding a move that is actually possible each time.

According to user reviews, the mechanism is stable, and layers you don't want to turn don't move by accident. The feel is often described as pleasantly "mechanical". This is not a speedcube, so don't expect the speed or corner cutting of modern 3x3 cubes. For relaxed solving, it is more than enough.

Roadblock I, II and III

The series has three versions of similar size that differ in layer layout and bandaging. Each one is a separate puzzle, not just another edition of the same one. V1 is the most often recommended starting point, because much of the solution can be based on the familiar 5x5 method.

Who is it for?

For cubers who already know bigger cubes and are looking for something different from yet another 3x3 model. The Roadblock will also appeal to collectors of shape mods and bandaged puzzles. As a first cube for a child or for someone who can't solve a 3x3 yet, it will usually be too frustrating.

Specifications

• Type: cube-shaped bandaged puzzle
• Manufacturer: WitEden
• Series: Roadblock (version I)
• Size: approx. 57.5 mm
• Weight: approx. 110 g
• Magnets: none
• Finish: no UV coating
• Body color: black