With a gravel bike with high quality tires you don’t need a glass smooth road for a smooth ride.
And glass smooth roads usually mean more cars going more fast. Lightly trafficked back roads tend to be rougher.
Its about choosing the right bike to fit where you want to ride, rather than choosing where you ride to fit the bike.
I like riding quiet, low traffic roads. Around here that means poorly maintained pavement or dirt/gravel. So a gravel bike with 38mm RH tires is the right tool for the job.
I also trail ride a lot. I have a real mtb for that.
Sold my last pavement racing bike 10 years ago and do not miss it… ever.
Last edited by Kapusta; 01-11-22 at 06:19 AM.