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@CrazyJames
I rode brakeless bmx for years, had a brake on for like 3 days on my fixed, i've forgotten what brake levers feel like.
But fixed brakeless is just as good as having a rear brake only if you can control the bike adequately, plus rear brakes/braking is more useful in an emergency situation as you can change direction to avoid things far more safely/effectively while using a rear brake. For instance if there is a situation where you need to slow down/skid and change direction whilst travelling at speed you are better off with a rear braking bias as this enables you to skid/slow down and turn at the same time with less risk of the front wheel breaking traction unexpectedly, and potentially making the situation worse. In many situations reaching for the front brake in an emergency can be one of the worst things you can do, as heavy braking at the front can:
cause your rear to lose traction easier
cause your front wheel to lock which effectively loses you your steering!
cause you to perform a front wheel skid if you are on a low grip surface, e.g. a wet road!
All in all a front brake obviously has its uses but in an emergency 9 times out of 10 the rear brake is the safer/lower risk option IMO.