I have always used brakes, good brakes. I've had knee issues since 1977 and known I could destroy them anytime I wanted or bite the bullet and put on and use a $50 brakeset (and get sweet handholds for climbing; handholds I need far more riding fixed than I do riding with gears. When I started, it was as race training and discipline and done on road bikes we simply replaced the rear wheel of. I went up hills I'd have had to walk down if I rode brakeless.(or go down at a snail's pace).

Plus, having an engineer's mind, not having a front brake always sounded to me, just dumb. Kinda like taking the big flaps used for take-off and landings off an airliner. "Ah, control tower. we took the flaps off, Direct us to a runway twice as long. We'll be hitting it at minimum flying speed, 250 mph." Why? Saves weight and air resistance. Improves fuel economy. And its's cool. Joe does it.

Ben