First, I'm an engineer; most of us, with respect to others, are a weird lot and do weird things.
From my website: (substitute Sugino for kickplate) I like my "kickplate" 'cause, being a roadie, I use neither the smaller chain rings nor a front derailleur, and it presents a cleaner looking frame. My kickplate is similar to a rock-ring used by mountain bikers, but the rock-ring is too small to cover a 52 tooth chainring.
It works this way: When one down-shifts, the chain "crawls" up to a larger cog. When one up-shifts, the chain "drops" to a smaller cog; during a "drop" the resulting loop, like whipping a length of rope or a garden hose, travels down the chain causing the chain to derail to the outside of the chainring. The chain "kicks" the plate, but, remains on the chainring.
Kurt, on clearing the stays, the spacing is already built into the Sugino crank for the 52. It gets a little closer when my handmade kickplate (16 guage aluminum) is on the outside and the 52 is on the inside.
It's close! Jim