Recreational & Family - Giant Suede - for gravel bike paths?

So I usually get the wife to come out a couple of times a year for some easy gravel bike path riding. She doesn't like the hunched over feeling of a mountain bike. My local shop carries Giant, and the Suede looks like it would be pretty comfortable for her. Can you ride this type of bike on gravel, or is it just for pavement?

It'll handle the gravel fine. Get her to take a test ride before you buy, though.

Just run the tire pressure 10 pounds less then the max printed on the tire.

So, FVMBA rider, did your wife ever test ride some bikes? I have a Giant Suede W (7 gears) and regularly have to ride through gravel, dirt, sand, crushed rocks, etc. just to get to some of the paved roads I prefer. My bike does fine (sand is the worst), especially if I keep the tire pressure toward the low end of what's recommended. For pavement, the higher air pressure is better. It's a fun bike for me. I've been out every day since I brought it home.

Not yet, the weather around here is finally getting nice enough for me to start bugging her about it! Thanks for reminding me!

Your wife might also like the Trek Pure or Pure Sport because it is very similar in style to the Suede. I test rode it and really felt comfortable on it. The one I rode was 21 gears and out of my price range but really a nice bike. I too felt hunched over and kind of squished on the Giant Sedona, although I noticed later that the handlebars are adjustable. It is probably quite similar to the Trek Navigator. I ended up preferring the Suede because of being closer to the ground and feeling more relaxed on it.