I recently converted from SS to FG and removed the rear brake. I didn't have any issues braking on on flat land, but still had to adjust with hills. The only other reason of removing it was because my hitch mounted platform bike rack clamps down onto the top tube... where the rear brake cable runs. Of course I can run the cable along the side of the top tube, but my bike came with the metal cable clamps that would look weird to do so on the side or bottom.