Anybody have any experience with either Priority or Head bicycles? I'm looking at either a Head Groove or a Priority Classic Plus, both belt-drive, IGH hybrid for routine trips around (a fairly flat) town. I figure even with a load and in traffic, no more than 30 minutes ride time across town.




Specs are pretty similar and what little difference there is in the price won't affect my decision.
The Head has 7-sp Alfine and the Priority's IGH is just 3-sp but where I live three is adequate to the task.
The Head's frame is (rust-proof) aluminum but all else being equal I would expect the Priority's steel frame to be longer-lasting (providing it doesn't rust).
The Head comes with 40mm tires, Priority with 35mm (which tells me the Head might be able to accommodate a larger max tire width).
The largest frame available for either is a touch too small for me -- the importance of which is somewhat mitigated by upright riding position -- but the largest Head is (I think) slightly larger than the largest Priority.

I find more reviews for Priority bikes in general but very few for either, and what reviews I do find aren't very critical or detailed, like they're afraid an honest critical observation could cost them sponsorship. Priority is (AFAIK) a real bicycle-oriented company, with actual customer service, whereas Head once was a top-notch sports equipment company but now is a trademark-for-hire.

Both have some traits in common with Walmart bikes, like a quill stem and loose bearings everywhere except the bottom bracket and the Alfine IGH. They're at a price point that's so low that my major concern is they'll be so clunky and unpleasant to ride that I won't want to ride them, so I'd prefer to avoid the religious wars (belt drive=inefficient, yadda, yadda, yadda) and just hear from people either who have experience with either brand, or have heard from someone who does.