I rode with a brake until my legs got strong enough and I got experienced enough to ride brakeless all the time, which I do now. In the city, in traffic. It's better for me. I don't like the feeling of using a brake to stop a fixed gear, you know, because you can use your legs? If I needed to grab a brake in emergency I'll just be doing an endo anyway, so I don't see the point. And as for really long rides, I use a road bike. Brakeless. .