US287 isn't much worse than it was 20 years ago and has actually improved somewhat since then...better shoulders. However, you post just points up the problem most people have with bicycling and bicycle commuting: They use their car brain and not their bike brain. The whole eastern plains of Colorado is a grid system set up on a 1 mile grid. Around Boulder, many of those roads are paved and run parallel to main roads. Go east or west, north or south a mile or 2 and you'll find nice quiet rural roads that are very pleasant for riding. With a little thought I could come up with a very nice route to Loveland from Boulder without going CO119, CO66 or US36. It may not be the most direct route but it sure would be more pleasant.