Thanks for the info. I wasn't counting on the crosswinds being so brutal, and as there are places here in Aus where it is frowned upon (but not actually illegal) to ride on major highways I wasn't sure of the rules over there.
Looking at the weather data, that is pretty amazing that the westerly stays strong all year 'round. Whilst in this case it could be better than a steady headwind every day, it's definitely killed my idea of purchasing some deep aero wheels for the flat commutes! Temperature wise, freezing to about 40C is my normal commute bracket - obviously I get better warning of the highs and lows though (not living in a desert).
I'll try and plot out another route between Palmdale and Mojave that doesn't touch the
#14 Hwy, it might even be a good excuse for cyclocross bike if there's dirt involved!
Thanks again for the help, whilst it has narrowed down my choices it's great to have more information on hand.
Cheers.