Lou,
I have a different theory about the origin of the term "straight kicker" as applied to a fixed gear. I believe that term must have originated from some other planet. I personally don't think it has anything to do with bicycles and probably someone here on planet earth started using it for some unknown reason; maybe even our own Larry Black. Which raises a much more pressing question. Is Larry Black an alien from outer space? If so, how long has he been here amongst this primitive race, and are the aliens from his home planet planning a hostile takeover? I suspect not; they looked down here and saw a traffic jam made up of off road vehicles! All of these SUV's and no one will even drive over a curb. Obviously no intellegent life here!
How about we invent another completely unrelated phrase to apply to something that already has a perfectly obvious name for what it is. Perhaps a fixed gear bike should be more commonly referred to as a "potato masher", or maybe a "mobile vacectamy", or how about a "butt massager"? Some may have a preference for "horizontal pogo stick" or even "bent stomper"? All of these make more sense than straight kicker. Maybe the phrase originated in a Rap song. No one uses "normal" words and phrases there, and they are constantly inventing new words for things that already have perfectly good names. WORD! Are you down with that, Playboy?
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Nothing personal Larry, just trying to get a laugh.
chuckschmidt@earthlink.net writes:
So now we can move on to "straight kicker."
I'm familiar with the term, but not with bicycles. At one time, before
soccer kickers took over place kicking in U.S. football, I was a straight kicker
too. Also, when kick starting a motorcycle, I can see that would be somewhat of
a straight kick, and in fact, you will see a straight kicker arm for sale at
this link:
http://www.motorcyclegoodies2.com/
Larry Black can answer this one of course, but given his proclivity to ride the high wheelers, I'm betting it comes from that era. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL