Originally Posted by
leegf
No less an authority than Sheldon Brown
writes:
There is really no need for a rear brake on a fixed-gear bicycle. By applying back-pressure on the pedals, you can supply all the braking that the rear wheel really needs. In fact, it is fairly easy to lock up the rear wheel and make it skid, unless you are running a rather high gear.
If it's good enough for Sheldon, then it's good enough for me.
I have yet been able to make my 16 tooth rear cog skid while at speed - but if I did I have a feeling that I would be leaning so far over the front wheel for leverage that the rear would be unweighted too much to even be a brake.