I guess I just started "gravel riding" myself (using a full-suspension 29er) and it's really opened up a lot of riding opportunities in smaller towns without an expansive residential/secondary street network.
I'm able to explore the dirt country roads, with very little motor vehicle traffic ... and what traffic there is goes VERY slowly due to road conditions.
I've started using the Chaparral rail-to-trail ... it starts at Farmersville and "theoretically" goes all the way to Paris, but it's undeveloped with deep tire ruts from motor vehicles just north of Merit, so that's where I get off and switch to dirt roads.
I'll have to explore the Sherman/Denison area next ... maybe I can find that bike shop?