OPTION 2 FOR SURE!!!!
- Forget Texas, especially that area, the only fun stuff in Texas is around Austin. Plus a lot of those little towns in Texas are just speed trap money generators.... it's terrible. There are speed limits in Texas as has been pointed out and they were raised on I-10 to 80.... I'm bummed because I got a ticket on that section for 84, back when it was 70.
- I've had this discussion with many sport touring types and they never listen, but I will say my bit again. I know it is about the journey and all, but what I do is.... I drive out there with bikes in the back of a truck or van or something... park the car, then ride. It maximizes ENJOYABLE riding time. Your route to Colorado on the 2nd option is perfect for this. You'll know you are about to get off i-80 because you pass one hell of a STINKY cow farm (to your left) .... just after that you get the exit towards Denver.
Consider parking the car in Colorado, then doing the rest of your ride as you planned it or change it up a little as you see fit. If you get another person to tag along, you guys can Drive/Sleep and not have to stop at all. It takes about 24 hrs to get to Denver. I have done it 3 times. Please understand that between here and Illinois = heavy traffic with lots of trucks and impatient drivers. Then you get CORN from Illinois to Nebraska. Dude, I mean you get CORN and that is all you see except for Iowa City and De Moines.... you don't see ANYTHING other than corn. It is so boring I now plan to drive by Iowa at night, because at least they have cool fire flies at flying around at night. Then you get a combo of corn, wheat, cattle and a bit of a river when you get to Nebraska... then the Stinky farm and soon you are in Colorado. I don't think it is worth slogging that crap out on a bike. Cannonball it, get there, then ride.... but it is up to you.
- Colorado - here is the deal dude, you are SO CLOSE to 24 between Minturn and Leadville, you MUST MUST MUST do that bit. Even if it means going up then back down again. A few other ones to consider are:
- Cottonwood Canyon
- 133 between Carbondale and Hotchkiss (you are already at Carbondale do the trip to Hotchkiss) awesome road, very little traffic and you are for the most part on a ridge.
- Independence Pass (82) is pretty good, but has more traffic than other roads and can get a touch busy on the weekends, but probably not that time of year.
- 50 through Monarch pass is a RIOT!!!! I saw you had that one your first route.... and maybe it is a personal thing that I liked it so much, but going up hill they give you 2 lanes (we were heading east FYI when I did it) going in the same direction and one lane going down the hill.
I have a 3 friends (2 which ride) in Colorado.... you could leave a tow vehicle or truck at their places if you wanted to.
I didn't get a chance to see much of your route two option, but it is hard to screw up the western states too much.
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