If you’re looking for a reasonably priced commuter bike that doesn’t require regular tuning or maintenance, you might want to check out Priority Bicycles. After riding a Continuum since this spring I can say the bike has served me well, requiring only a few minor adjustments to keep things running smoothly.
As Priority’s top of the line commuter model, the Continuum features a Gates belt drive system and Nuvinci’s Nfinity internally geared rear hub. The build spec follows Priority’s usual scheme of providing key necessities like fenders, rack mounts, and puncture-resistant tires with reflective striping.
Priority Bicycles belt-driven Continuum commuter setup
The Continuum arrived mostly assembled in the box. All I had to do was straighten and tighten the stem/bars, install the front fender, put on the front wheel, drop in the seat and post, wrench on the pedals, and pump up the tires.
Just for fun, I tried to build the bike with the basic tools Priority supplies. I was almost able to complete the assembly. But, oops! I broke both wrenches trying to tighten the pedals on! I’d suggest using a proper pedal wrench, and really checking the wheel nuts with something more substantial than the provided tools.
The rear wheel comes already bolted in with the drive belt pre-tensioned, so you can get riding right away and shouldn’t need to tension the belt for quite some time. Since the wheel is positioned in the dropouts via two slotted washers, you can remove and replace it without needing to reset the belt tension. The only other extra step to remove the wheel is disconnecting the shifter cables from the Nuvinci hub, which simply pop out by hand.
First Impressions
My first impression was that the Continuum’s aluminum frame and fork both look well built, and don’t give off a “budget” vibe. As for fit, I’m 5′ 9″ tall and the 19″ Continuum’s geometry worked well for me. When I compared it to my other commuter, the reach was almost identical but it definitely sits me in a more relaxed, more upright position versus my custom MTB conversion.
I find Priority is very thoughtful when it comes to their builds: the Continuum is fully equipped for daily commuting with fenders, front & rear rack attachments, bottle cage mounts on the top & down tubes, bolt-on wheels & seat, and 700x32c puncture-resistant tires.
The handlebar, stem and grips are pretty basic… Since the Continuum is Priority’s high-performance model, it wouldn’t hurt to see a name brand bar/stem, and the weather-resistant silicon grips weren’t the most comfortable on longer rides. As this bike is meant to get you around in all kinds of weather I applaud the inclusion of the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, which haven’t needed any adjustment since day one. I found the Velo seat fairly comfortable, and am happy Priority provided metal platform pedals with traction pins.