The platforms are just so that I can use winter boots. I really miss foot retention on hills (up and down) but stopping really isn't an issue with this low gear. I've considered running one of the brakes, but I'm never hauling ass down hills with platforms. (I did it once, SCARY) But yeah I've been riding fixed for 2 years, brakeless for like a year and a half, never really any issues, even now that I'm not runnning retention for the winter.