Browsing the Adventure Cycling Association website for routes in Colorado - haven't really been able to find anything useful. Seems like I have to buy a map in order to see what it covers? But I did find their Colorado Loop Tour.

I've plotted it here: ColoradoLoop - A bike ride in Aspen, CO based on the city locations they mention. I live in Aspen, so am thinking about riding this loop solo in 2015 if my Wales plans fall apart (50/50 on that right now). I'd be riding fully loaded (rear panniers + tent) but am contemplating which way to ride it - Do i hit the big climb first and let it get easier, or (the way its currently plotted) start of easy and get harder and harder each day?

If you Google the Bike Tour of Colorado website, they do loops every year, typically about the same distance.

My favorite is:

Gunnison - Montrose, 64 miles

Montrose - Ouray - 43

Ouray - Durango - 72

Durango - Pagosa Springs - 59

Pagosa - Creede - 64

Creede - Gunnison - 105

407 total, 29,000 ft climbing.

Doing it reversed has the toughest climbs on days 1, 2 & 4 plus the longest distance on day 1. The Ouray to Montrose is uphill all the way on this loop, downhill the reverse, as FYI

Interesting - will take a look at that website on Google.

I'm doing this unsupported etc so that I only have to cover food costs and camp sites. Montrose is a good 3-hour drive from here, so I'm looking to start/end my tour from my front door here in Aspen.

I had looked at a loop out of Aspen, with Montrose being the western point, before bending south and going through Gunnison (I believe). But I've traveled as far as Montrose via car this past Soccer Season - certainly some interesting scenery and wide open expanses.

Probably looking to do this ride in July 2015 at some point - gives me warmer weather and time to get some rides in.

One reason to go over the high passes first would be to grab a decent weather window. That's only if you can pick your start date based on weather.

Are you gonna be in shape from day one for the tough climbs? If so, it's just a matter of personal preferance. If not, then better take it easy up front. As this will not be a long tour, way better to get the 'in shape' thing sorted out before leaving. Might even be critical to a successful tour.

I should be able to ride Independence Pass a few times, along with the Maroon Bells. Decent climbing on all - 3000+ feet or so. So it would be possible for me to be in shape for that. Once we get snow (its all melted in this 40'f heat) I'll be able to do a lot of XC Skiing this winter (planning on doing so 5 days a week at least).

Can't quite decide which way to do it. Heading downvalley to Glenwood will essentially be a downhill journey the whole way. Then gradual climbs. Going to Leadville means doing a big climb, but then easier ones with a gradual lowering of elevation, before riding mostly uphill from Glenwood to Aspen. Worst case scenario that way, I can take a bus from Glenwood to Aspen.

Personally, I'd be more inclined to ride counter-clockwise. Although you are going to be doing climbs whichever way you go, the climbs in the counter-clockwise direction seem steeper but shorter. For example, the ride from Twin Lakes to the top of Fremont Pass is a long uphill slog. The ride from up Fremont Pass from the east side is steeper but you are over with it sooner.

Steve b's route is way better than the one you link to. That is one of my favorite loops in Colorado. Better scenery, less traffic. You can start in aspen and get head over McClure pass, then take 92 to the reservoir at hwy 50. Or just go over to delta, but that is less awesome.

Steve B's route...with my start location. Quite a bit longer and I'm going to have to break it down into 50 mile or so segments. My Disc Trucker is anything but light and I would have to determine whether I camp or find Motels along the way (the latter option being a lot lighter).

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6605436

You do know that the eastern half of the Colorado River Road is dirt and can be moderately tough depending on how sandy/rutted it is. Also, Buffalo Pass Road is unsurfaced - varying from good to poor. I thought it would be pretty good a number of years ago - but it was in really bad shape. Forest service roads vary from year to year. What can be a great road one year can be in bad shape three years later. Speaking of climbs - - there's a hefty climb northbound out of the Colorado Canyon if you go clockwise. The advantage of clockwise is that you may - repeat may - get strong tailwinds along the Colorado. Winds tend to be southerly in the stretch from Walden to Twin Lakes.

I certainly can't help with route, but can comment on limiting yourself to 50mi/80km days-this would be wise. Without knowing your fitness and how much riding you will have done prior to trip both loaded and loaded with a lot of climbing per day, starting off with some easy days in the 40mile range is always a good plan. I've found this to be the case with any trip, if possible, but if you are dealing with lots of climbing from the get go, I'd recommend it.
Only you can know how a given distance will be with a given load and a given amount of climbing, but if you aren't able to do much loaded riding like this beforehand, starting out with shorter distances is always nice.
I've ridden loaded in mountains when I was fairly fit and in days with 2000+ meters/6000+ ft climbing per day, at times did 30-40 miles per day (50-60km) depending on where places to camp where/towns or whatever.

again, only you will know what works for you, but I don't think my experience is that unusual as a reference.

That looks good. THere is bad traffic between Durango and Bayfield - I think there is a better alternate way to get from Durango to Pagosa Springs - ask in the Durango bike shops. Also, if you are near Salida when you need to stop for a night, Salida is a really cool little town, if you go into town, but seems fairly lame if you stay on the outskirts. So, go to town. Why are you going to Marble?

Marble is put in there as a tentative overnight stay. I haven't done as much riding as in my younger years, and the last few times i've hit the 40 mile point on a ride, my legs get (what I assume are) severe cramps in the same spot about mid-thigh. My Ireland trip - the two days I went over 40 miles around that 40 mile mark I had to take a break (or three) and do some good stretching.

I am not sure if its because my legs aren't used to doing that sort of mileage, but the first time it happened to me I had to get a ride home and couldn't walk for two days afterwards. The second time it happened I had to abandon my attempt at a LEJOG. The first day of my Ireland tour was 50 miles and sure enough, 40 miles in, my legs started to go. Managed to nurse them back but on my rest day - day 4 - I got a massage that 'hurt so good' when my legs were done.

Also taking into account that I'll probably be fully loaded. So I don't expect to do more then 50 miles in a day, unless half of it is literally downhill.

regular riding and just putting in the miles is always going to help with issues like you describe, assuming no weird physical issues, proper bike fit and all that stuff. Slowly increasing distances over time has always been how I've gone at it, and its to be expected to have muscle issues if you dont put the regular miles in--not a criticism, but more to say it is pretty normal (and especially when we aren't 25 anymore).

Proper stretching over weeks and months of riding really do help with cramps and whatnot.

re planning distances, I really do think its common to overdo it at first, if you have the time, be really conservative in the first bunch of days. Listen to your body and just go with what works, and hopefully pre-trip you can ride loaded and very gradually increase distances and be careful about cadence, nutrition, water intake, sleep and all that stuff that has a real impact on how you feel the next day. Do the distances you are comfortable with, if its 30 miles, fine. Enjoy yourself without overdoing it, that is the whole idea (and disregard what others have done distance wise, thats pretty important).

good luck prepping for this trip.

ACA does have an overview map on their website that allows you to zoom in close on any portion of their routes.

Interactive Network Map | Adventure Cycling Association

I've decided that I am going to be broke for the next year or two and go on my Wales trip.

I will definitely keep this on the back-burner for next year though! I'll be posting my Wales route later (can also be found on my blog, linked in my signature, for those interested).