My father who is now 75 years of age has always ridden a fixed gear.I think that it was an economical thing when he was younger and he never really got out of it.In the mid 70's he purchased a reconditioned frame from the local bike shop with new Normandy hubs and Weinemann side pull brakes ( for legal reasons only ) that still have the original rubbers in them.I remember being out riding with him when he had only had the bike for about 12 months.We descended a hill and he managed to split the rear hub at the base of the threads while backpedaling.When he went back to the shop with his rear wheel they were somewhat indignant but good natured about he fact that he had been using it to brake with.His defence was simply that he had been doing it for over 20 years.They replaced it at cost.He never experienced any more problems and he certainly didn't alter his riding habits so it must have been an isolated case.He still rides every day but is confined to a stationary trainer these days.True story. Geoff Duke Melbourne Australia