I agree completely with "Ride Among Us". I like bombing hills. I used to ride brakeless (primarily for technical reasons; not because I wanted to), and having a brake means I no longer have to worry so much about having the time to stop, or saving my legs so that I can stop, or other things like that. I just GO, and I've used my brakes enough to know how quickly I can slow down regardless of how tired I am or other factors like that.

I'm also a big fan of using brakes often (usually in addition to resisting). Knowing how to modulate the brakes when the ____ hits the fan isn't something you're born with, and being able to panic, grab the brakes, and have the reflexes to modulate the brake when the rear end starts coming up has saved me from hitting things and from going over the bars on many occasions. Also, having experience dealing with front-wheel slides can keep you from hitting the deck when they happen in panic situations. Practice, practice, practice.