Re wide tires and rough roads-- I've shown this photo a bunch of times, but I was so glad to have wider tires (45-50mm) similar to the RH stuff when I did some long trips 4, 5 years ago.
This chipseal road in mid Mexico was the worst chipseal I've ridden on, and wider tires at proper pressures saved my hands that day.
And then there are sandy loose surface roads too.
