to burbankbiker: i've found that the best way to learn is to do your best using the brakes as little as possible; the first hour or so will have you a little nervous, but it's nothing after that. just start out riding really slow and within a few days backpedaling will feel like second nature. you should want to learn to rely on your legs if you're riding fixed and constantly depending on levers will hamper that, especially if you use two of them.