I'm actually listening to Chinese Democracy now, and even through my tiny laptop speakers, it's not half bad. I wouldn't go so far as Chuck Klosterman—I don't think it was worth waiting 15 years for—but then again I didn't grow up in North Dakota. Still, at least it finally gives some closure to the whole Guns N' Roses saga, and it's certainly a better album than Slash's Snakepit or whatever the heck Duff McKagan's solo record was called. You sort of have to respect a loony perfectionist like Axl Rose for releasing anything at all. (I found it interesting that Buckethead, the supremely talented and weird guitarist who appears on a few tracks, once released 28 albums in ONE YEAR. Philosophical differences, anyone?)
Anyway, when you put things into Chinese Democracy persepctive, it's like we didn't have to wait for the Ratchet at all. If I'm not mistaken, the Ratchet was first shown at Interbike 2007. Guns N' Roses started writing in 1994 for an album that wasn't released until 2008. I'm not sure what Interbike was like in 1994, but it's safe to say that anything shown there that hasn't been released yet won't be coming out. BMX was kind of different then. What was Odyssey making back then? Pitbull brakes and Gyros, I'd think.
Not sure about y'all, but I'm never complaining about a long wait again.
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The latest in "let's revive a terrible idea from the '80s?" This. Tioga marketed a product called the Crazy Chain back in the '80s which was more or less exactly the same, only weaker. Then again, it was lighter, so maybe seek out an original if you want your bike to look stupid. They also sold a 'matching' set of mismatched chainring bolts, which would probably be a big hit amongst the fixed-gear freestyler crowd.
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CORRECTION: A few posts ago, I said something about Inopia being "doomed from the start." Apparently Inopia is not dead, only hibernating. Thanks for the heads up, George.
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