Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart

What??? Where'd you hear that one?

Since linier brakes are so powerful and many riders who buy low end mountain and hybrid bikes have never had so strong a front brake and since the bike company lawyers have a pretty big say in how things are done the spring lessens the on set of max braking forces. Think of it like a an anti lock device, which of course it isn't at all. Note that the more expensive bikes with these brakes generally don't have the spring loaded noodle.

I've made jokes about having brakes so powerful that you need to make them weaker. Andy