Please help me to decide: I have a chance to buy either Unity Priority bike or Novara Gotham. Both sport internal hubs and belt drives. Both have what seems to me similar frame geometry, both are available in good condition and both can be had for $500. I'm dead set on internal hubs so no need to discuss this element. What's the word?

Like this one: (list $2299)
https://www.prioritybicycles.com/products/the600

vs. this one (list $1300)
https://bicycletimesmag.com/review-novara-gotham/

No idea. If this model suits your needs I'd be tempted to the the Priority one since the price is the same. ??

If they are both exactly the same probably would go with the Novara, it at least came from a physical bike shop (even if not always great) so the chance is higher it was put together by a mechanic. However in terms of bikes like that I probably would go with neither at least looking at your current crop of bikes. It is time to get yourself something nicer. You have plenty of entry level stuff time to level up my friend.

These are some choices:
https://co-motion.com/collections/si...roducts/pangea (Rohloff hub and Dynamo equals a bomb proof commuter or an excellent touring machine and the steel frame is a nice comfy ride)
https://www.rodbikes.com/catalog/mak...hift-main.html (also made in America and of good quality with lower cost options)
https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2020-presidio-4-dlx (not made in America but 11 speed Alfine with Dynamo and much cheaper)

I hear you and I agree with you. The only problem is that for me a bike is not just something for a Sunday afternoon ride, but now, that I'm retired, a mode of transportation. This means that I'm facing an increased risk of bike getting stolen. With an expensive bike I could never just tie it to a rack while shopping for groceries at a supermarket. I'd always worry about it. So there has to be a golden middle - a nice bike, but not so expensive that I would feel reluctant to leave it unattended.

The bike that I'm thinking of is a Priority Unity. I can't even find it in their list of models. Maybe it has been out of production for a while. But it is certainly a nice bike in new like shape and with built in head light.

Get a good locking system, practice good locking techniques and you should be OK. Don't be the easy target and don't leave a bike outside overnight or in areas that see little traffic or see a lot of random traffic often but never the same people for long periods (like outside of a subway station). A thief wants an easy target if you don't give them that they will likely move on unless they are really determined but outside of the grocery store or coffee shop...they are less likely to bring out the big cutting tools to steal it as it is an easy catch.

ABUS is an excellent choice as you can order a full keyed alike set with a frame lock, U Lock, Folding Lock (though this specific one cannot be keyed to the other stuff but the 6405 is the same lock with a Plus Keyway) and Chain Lock. You can also get wheel locks from them. You can also add Pitlock which can lock various components to the bike including wheels and can be keyed alike to itself.

Good to hear you say "mode of transportation" if only more people could think like that, bikes could be taken more seriously in this country. It is certainly getting better but a lot of people see bikes as toys still. Not saying that Sunday riding means you have a toy at all.

Google shows no results for a Priority Unity or Unity Priority. Be careful with this one