The Ultimate Brakeless/Front/Rear/How many brakes? thread

I noticed that someone had removed the rear brake from their ladies town bike which had typical steel rims. They claimed they had made it fixed to be lighter, but It struck me as odd that they still had normal flat pedals and only one brake on a steel rimmed bike on a wet day.

So I butted into their conversation with someone else, quite abruptly asking "can you stop alright on that" to which the reply was "of course I can, I wouldnt be riding it otherwise" In an offended kinf of way. I think my helpful concern came across all wrong and I just sounded like a snobbish smarmy prick. They actualy question/concern about flat pedals went right over their head, so I shut up and left it.

I was just wondering if anyone else finds it challenging to explain to friend-of-friend types about inadequate braking on their bikes? Especially girls, I just come off as some self-important sexist fixie snob.

To be brutally honest I think strangers lecturing people unasked on any topic probably comes across as sanctimonious and arrogant because, well, it is a bit, isn't it?

I am not saying your concern for her safety isn't genuine, but you wouldn't go up to someone smoking a cigarette and start banging on about lung cancer. Well, some people would I suppose.