Hey Weetbix - no, I have no journal, below are few photos from various tours, for inspiration. Except for Wolf Creek Pass, these are on that first route.

I totally understand your situation about trying to figure out the route with little info - my first time coming to CO I was the same, and was lucky enough to sit down with a friend who used to live here, and go over the map with him. Other than Hwy 50 and Hwy 70, most of the highways in Colorado in the mountains are pretty reasonable with respect to traffic. 50 and 70 are the major east-west truck routes, and Hwy 40 is busier as well. The major population centers of CO are mainly on the Front Range (= just east of the rockies, paralleling I-25 just to it's west), and near I-70. So that's where the traffic is. Getting out of Denver into the mountains can be tricky, there are several routes that look OK on the map but aren't, and the good ways aren't obvious from the map.

This book is really helpful for info about the passes - grades, services, maps: http://www.amazon.com/Cycling-Colora...4254433&sr=8-1

And this map is useful for the whole state, showing camp locations and designated scenic highways: http://www.gtrmapping.com/catalog.ph...nded%20Edition

The State of COlorado publishes a cycling map that includes traffic volumes:
http://www.coloradodot.info/programs...bicycling-maps
http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/bikeped

That first route was definitely seeking as much mountainous terrain as possible, and crosses 3 of the highest passes in CO - Trail Ridge Road, Cottonwood Pass and Loveland Pass. We were actually planning to add in Independence Pass as well, but ran out of time.

Loveland Pass


At the continental divide (not the top) on Trail Ridge Road (on a credit card tour)


Wolf Creek Pass


Peak to Peak Highway (on a day ride)


Battle Mountain near Minturn (on a day ride)