Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

the only issue I don't like about internal gear is the weird spongy feeling you get from not having a direct drive, did you get that too? that alone put me off internal gear touring/road bicycle (but for town/utility, it's perfect)..

Definitely doesnt feel as sharp as a direct drive. Not sure I would call it spongy. The patterson cranks are also less sharp when in overdrive. In direct drive mode (which I use 90% of the time when loaded) they're unnoticable. But in over-drive (which I use 75% of the time when unloaded), they click like a freewheel. Kinda annoying. But it allows me a top end of ratios, I could'nt otherwise afford to have on such a load carrier.