I recently put a brake on my bike after many years of riding without one. I definitely ride harder with it on but I also descend mountains too which was not possible before or just ridiculously slow. Even in flat traffic I can now just race right up to stop lights as opposed to timing it. I put the brake on because of an injury and then found out I kind of like it. Still though if I am cruising and some one or thing jumps out in front of me my first instinct is to stop brakeless and or avoid the situation. The brake is really just a long descending tool.