Originally Posted by
staehpj1
One thing that hasn't been mentioned...
I have found that for me it works best to get the flying out of the way at the beginning of the trip. It is easier to plan an exact date and time at the beginning of the trip than at the end. That way you have a bit of flexibility in the ride schedule and it will be less hassle if you get a day or more ahead of or behind schedule. So if I lived in Reno I'd strongly consider starting in the East.
+1
How important is it to go in August? How important is it to keep time/distance down e.g. 3000 miles (or some time equivalent)? What other flexibility do you have?
It seems to me if you are tightly constrained in time and it being August, then starting a little further north decreases amount of hot/muggy riding to be done. Riding a little further north does increase the distance - which might increase risk of not making your time budget. However, if you start on east coast and make last part of trip not too far from the Amtrak California Zephyr line cities - then if worst comes to worst, you take a train last little bit home and go back a little later an "finish" that last part of the trip. Alternately, if everything goes much faster than planned, then you are home a bit early.