A Diverge was my only bike for two years. I ride it mostly on paved roads with 700x38c tires. It rides well on the road, and also is good off-road, though it's been a challenge on some rougher trails. I now have a second bike, a Cervelo Caledonia, but still ride the Diverge a lot on pavement. If you're not racing, it really works just as well as a road bike. Not quite as nimble, but not a dog either. You say you're an older rider. I"m 71 and find the Diverge very comfortable.