A continuous web printer that has an inlet for receiving a web of media from a media web roll unwinder, an outlet for delivery to a media web roll winder, a plurality of pagewidth inkjet printhead assemblies for printing on both sides of the web; and a media feed path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The media feed path has a first print zone where one side of the web is printed and a second print zone where the other side of the web is printed. The first print zone and the second print zone are flat, and the first print zone is upstream from the second print zone with respect to a media feed direction.