Originally Posted by
Toadmeister
Carbon fiber can help reduce road chatter, the high frequency vibrations which often cause discomfort over time. That said, your tires and pressure will have a larger impact in this aspect.
Great Toads think alike!
IMHO, comfort on rough surfaces starts at tires. Look for wider tires, with higher tpi (making softer sidewalls), and play with pressures. I ride
700x45 WTB Riddlers and like to keep pressures around 25/28 (f/r) psi for gravel (for reference, this Toad is ~165 lbs).
Great discussion about tire choice and pressures - jump to 5:55 to talk pressures.
EDIT (afterthought): comfort starts at the tire, but never forget if bike geometry and fit are off, no tire will fix that.