Originally Posted by
ThermionicScott
I've ridden gravel on a road bike with 28mm tires and not much clearance. There is a good argument to be made that you'll learn some valuable things when you use the "wrong" bike for the purpose.
really depends on the gravel. Around here riding a road bike on the gravel will most likely teach you how hard it is to push your bike back to civilization after you've had enough flats to go through all your spares. I think my record for flats in one ride was 6. Fortunately, someone on the ride I was on took me back to town. Someone showed up with 28mm tires on that weekly gravel ride and ended up walking down a mountain after going through everybody's spares.