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@DFP
No normal bike will grip on ice very well. I rode my mtb last winter and still ended up on my back whenever I came across ice, no matter how hard I tried not to turn.
If you get comfortable on a fixed wheel, you'll find that you have better control of semi-slippery surfaces like wet manhole covers or tiny bits of ice/slush. Your back end might slide out, but your much more likely to get it under control than with freewheel & a brake.
Back brakes have shorter spindles than front brakes, so it wont fit on your fork. Generally most fixed riders only have a front brake because you have your legs for the back, and a front brake is more responsive than a back one.
If you were riding freewheel with one brake, it would be better on the back though.