I live a couple miles from the Cheese Country and ride it quite often. I have a Fargo and Mukluk and ride both on there with very little issues at all. I did a 5 day bike trip on the Fargo this summer and it handled great on the paved roads, rail trails and the Cheese Country. I think it is a super versatile bike. Sure you are going to push a little more rubber on the paved roads, but in bike touring you aren't in much of a hurry anyways. I also take it out on the gravel roads in SW Wisconsin and I can hop on off road trails without any issue.