Originally Posted by chaadster

This sounds like perfect reasons to build a gravel bike, namely, to do more winter road riding, especially if the gravel roads which would make up a favorite route are less trafficked than paved roads, because it's safer.

I'd also encourage you to look at a gravel bike as I do, which is as a rain and spring time bike, so something that can take fenders to keep you clean and dry when it's sloppy out.

And since you're a road rider, get a gravel bike which is suited to spirited road riding rather than an "adventure" or "gravel grinder" type bike.

snip . .