IMHO only, I think that so much of the 'zen' aspect/arguements for fixed comes from people who jumped on the bandwagon and try to hide that fact by being a snob about it, and instead of listening and thinking about what people have to say who may disagree with their opinions, just drink the PBR and recite the party line. The whole brakeless is better is stupid in my mind, I have a front brake and would never ride fixed without one, except on a track I suppose.

I love riding fixed, I enjoy the ease of it, I also love riding my 27 geared bad boy. For winter I like the fixed bike, mainly because of the durability aspects, I dont want to ruin the rims, cassette and deraileurs on my c-dale, and my surly hub has cartridge bearings and I don't have to worry about trashing them from the salt sludge in T.O. roads.