Like has been said above, don't knock it until you have tried it. I have a fixie that I have put over 24,000 miles on in the last 7 years. I ride a brake because you need it to go down hill I have done double metric centuries on it, took it tp Colorado to "Ride the Rockies" in 2007 (included going over Independence Pass--over 12,000 ft up). It is fun to ride and if you gear it right, it will not kill your knees as is a common misconception.

I ride brakes because braking without wears out three things... the chain, the rear tire and your knees. (I did learn how to brake without using the brakes, but it is very counter intuitive--you need to throw your weight forward--crotch to the stem, and that doesn't feel right--I will stick to brakes).

You learn how to ride high cadence and you can 'coast' by letting your legs 'noodle'...

Oh-- and I am not a young hipster-- I am 56

train safe-