i may certainly take some of this back in the morning as i've just finished working all evening, ... but as far as speed reading through most of it 'cause i'm lazy... here i go.

and please, if yer gonna take me down, promise you'll take kiecker and i down together, we'd both enjoy it more that way ; )

me = super newbie mtn bike rider
always been single speed.
to this day, a whole lot of that fixed gear.

ruining trails? seriously, when i'm out riding i see geared guys trying to "not do that" 'cause they're "not supposed to", and they know it, while doing that. all the time.
and for some reason it makes them smile.
testosterone.
that's what it is.
when i'm riding trails fixed, i never touch my front brake, back doesn't exist, and i mess with no integrity of trails. i ride slower, some, and i learn the techinical stuff, way better than i ever have not fixed.
i'm inclined to think i've become a better rider because of this. in a shorter amount of time. if you're riding a fixed gear you don't need a rear brake, whether you're on the street or on the trails.
so long as you're not a jerk.

you do, and should, in either case, need a front, though.
makes ya smart.
instead of smrt.
or maybe i'm just old and practical.
or don't care what others think of me.

make sense??

if not, call me a jerk in the morning for being too tired too read all of this.
and i will either agree, or not.
either way i end up on the ground with kiecker.
and i'm ok with that.