brakes don't really help you out in situations that you generate - they help you out in avoiding situations that others generate for you. That garbage truck in the alley that just doesn't see you because the driver is still pissed about what his wife said when he left this morning...he is gonna create a situation for you. You gonna need a brake to stop - and no fixie is gonna stop as fast without as with. But - 97.5 percent of the time you don't need a brake...97.5 percent of the time your kids don't need seatbelts.