i ride brakeless and i think that if i had a brake i might go a bit
faster/harder sometimes. when i'm riding with my friend (he rides
single speed) i let him go first sometimes, because he will approach
an intersection with more speed than me. it sucks though when he
goes first because he can slow down faster, or stop as to where i
would just find another way through. i do skip some, but rarely skid.