[0des]

The lingering issue I have with that is that at first glance you see some cool routes, but then you get there and realize it was clearly a route for mountainbikers. I commute via track bike, which couldn't be any more ill-suited for the terrain. Given that my bike and style of riding is more suited for flat smooth pavement, I generally just ride with traffic as the routes are better maintained and it is easier to know when there is a pothole ahead.

[Lio]

That's odd as Strava routes has an option to control the terrain it uses for a route. You should be able to just choose smooth tarmac only.

I guess that could be limited by how good the mapping data is where you live but it works really well where I am.

[loeg]

I scope out unfamiliar routes with Google Streetview.

[0des]

I'm unable to use Google applications, however that does sound very useful. The mapping application I have access to works however I am limited to what I can plan ahead of time as I don't have a device that does that type of thing.