Be careful about stereotyping.

I’ve been relying on a bicycle as my primary means of transportation for well over half a century, and was riding fixed gear (what we called “stiff-hub” back in the day) long before the current crop of fixie fashionistas were born. I started riding fixed gear because I enjoy the fundamental simplicity of it, the feeling of being at one with the machine, not to conform to the expectations of some juvenile tribe to which I was desparately trying to gain acceptance. Kinda sad to see fixed gear become a fad; hope it wears off soon.

The great majority of my miles over the last ten years have been pedaled on a brakeless fixie, without incident. I can complete my current ten mile commute about three minutes faster on my road bike, but I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, burns defensive and proactive cycling into the brain and into muscle memory like riding a fixed gear bicycle without brakes. It’s not for everybody – certainly not for cyclists with a more reactive riding style or those with more variable terrain to contend with.

Guess there's some truth to the old adage “there’s no fool like an old fool”.