I will start this off by saying that I have not had a brake on my bike for close to 6 years now. I don't like them and that is my choice. I have never crashed due to the lack of a brake. I have no problem with those that want to ride with them but keep in mind that I CHOOSE to not. So let the tale begin. A few years ago when I was delivering still, I had a friend by the name of Chris. Since I knew him he didn't ride with a brake, two days after installing a front brake on his fixie a ped decided to cross the street inbetween two parked cars without a crosswalk in sight and without looking either way. Well Chris being a somewhat novice brake user grabbed that lever so tight he went up and over the bars and smashed his face against the pavement. Broken jaw, missing teeth and a ped who never stopped to check if he was ok. So I ask how is it that he was safer with a brake then without?
I love to ramble sometimes.