Buddy of mine who thinks a brake messes up the aesthetic of his bike was presented with an unavoidable, unexpected obstacle yesterday. Someone had closed a section of road that was just after a corner that he rode every day. All of a sudden here he is at speed and has a very short distance to come to a complete stop as a fence blocked the road. No out. He couldn't stop. Bent his fork, ruined his headset, injuries to face and wrist. Damage could have been minimized or avoided with a brake. Point is no matter how good you are sometimes you have no out, you just must stop quickly and he had no time to brace and skid. So all you invincible brakeless people (and I have logged years as one) take note, it turns out you may not be invincible after all.