ROUTE HELP! From Denver through Kansas Along I-70 (NOT TA Trail)

[Rankin Tickle]

Hello all,
Is there anyone that can give me any input regarding a route to follow across Kansas that is near or along I-70. Obviously I'm not cycling on Interstate 70. I want to follow that same route though.
I see County Roads for a bit, but it appears there are some end points in what route, I "may" conceive is possible.
I can't go across the TransAmerica Trail. It takes me off my path and necessary stops.
In Kansas, I see Old US HWY 24, that appear to turn into "Q," then continuing on HWY 24, before heading south on HWY 283, then east on Hwy 40 through Hays,KS... Appears HWY 40 runs parallel with I 70 after that for awhile- then stops. It looks like Ave B may continue my travels East, but have no idea as to that road... 
Any insight on anything above, including roads mentioned above, personal experience, or other alternate routes that would guide me from Denver through Kansas into Missouri following I 70 as close to 70 as possible??!!
After Making it through or Near Manhattan, Topeka, and Kansas City I plan to hit the Lewis and Clark Trail and continue East.

Any insight or suggestions? Thank you so much for those that can give me insight! This is an epic journey.
Any experience or suggestions riding in this area will be greatly appreciated!!!
Any Route suggestion from anyone that has taken a similar approach to crossing Kansas would be a serious blessing.
Thanks Again. God Speed!
-Rankin

[indyfabz]

U.S. 283 south from U.S. 24 would take you to WaKeeny. If you were to get on U.S. 40 at that point you would be on I-70 since they are combined in that area. (U.S. 40 joins I-70 further west at Oakley.) There is Old Rte. 40 east from WaKeeney that turns into SR 147 and then E. 10th through Ellis before turning back into Old Rte. 40. into Hays. It continues east of Hays, roughly paralleling U.S. 40/I-70. East of Hays you can see the road on Google Street View. At Ellsworth it appears to be renamed Avenue J/SR 140 to Salina, where it becomes E. Old Rte. 40 and then Old Rte. 40 again. Google suggests it goes as far as Junction City. From what you can see on Street View, it appears to be mostly a narrow road with no shoulder but light traffic.

[Rankin Tickle]

indyfabz,
Thank you for the response. Will I be able to input such a customized route into an 800 series or touring series bike mounted Garmin? I'm not sure if you have any experience with those and how to go about that? Can a customized route be uploaded to the Garmin through adventurecyclingassociation.org website? Sorry for the numerous questions.
Have you gone east through Kansas and into Missouri before?
Hoping the wind doesn't blow me straight of the road... Praying mother nature will cooperate also.
Thanks Again,
Rankin

[RussSeaton]

For riding from Denver into western Kansas, Hwy 36 is good.  It parallels I-70 the whole way.  36 goes east to the Missouri border, not sure how the road is once you get out of the western part of Kansas and eastern Colorado.  Hwy 36 starts on the east edge of Denver and hits towns every 30 miles or so.  Long ago I rode the Colorado Last Chance 1200k brevet.  It uses Hwy 36 about 100-200 miles into Kansas then turns around and goes back to north of Denver.  The Colorado portion has a shoulder along the highway.  No rumble strips on the shoulder.  I cannot remember if the Kansas portion of Hwy 36 has a shoulder or not.  There is very little traffic on the road, all the traffic is on I-70.  About the only troubling part is rattlesnakes curl up on the shoulder of the road.  So if you are riding the shoulder, your bike tires go within inches of the rattlesnakes.  Snakes are on the shoulder to get warm in the sun.

[jamawani]

I used to live in Kansas and have ridden many routes off of the TransAm.

You can take CO 86 from Castle Rock to Limon - but the west half has more and more traffic.
FromLimon, CO - US 40 is a good alternative route all the way into west Kansas.
From Limon to Kit Carson it has moderate traffic - east of Kit Carson it has very little.

US 40 dumps you back on the I-70 corridor at Oakley and means a few miles of gravel road.
But there are paved service roads / county roads that parallel I-70 all the way to Junction City.

<<<>>>

If instead you follow the service roads along I-70 in eastern Colorado to Colby, KS -
You can then take US 24 and KS 18 to Junction City. KS 18 is really a sweet ride.
You can also take US 36 east from Denver and cut down on KS 27 to Goodland.

<<<>>>

The stretch from Junction City to Topeka is tricky.
I-70 was built on top of US 40 and bicycles are prohibited. KS 18 / US 24 has brutal traffic.
I suggest taking KS 57 and KS 4 through the Flint Hills - hilly, but scenic.

<<<>>>

If you are heading thru Topeka and Lawrence to K.C. - it will be tough.
There are a couple of so-so options which require detailed street knowledge.

[JHamelman]

Rankin Tickle,

Kansas also just produced a new bicycle route map you might want to take a look at. It is available as a pdf download from the Kansas DOT.

http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burRail/bike/default.asp

.Jennifer.

[indyfabz]

indyfabz,
Thank you for the response. Will I be able to input such a customized route into an 800 series or touring series bike mounted Garmin? I'm not sure if you have any experience with those and how to go about that? Can a customized route be uploaded to the Garmin through adventurecyclingassociation.org website?

Sorry. I use the "Garmin" I was born with and paper maps and/or cue sheets.

[CMajernik]

Tami, to begin a new topic/question go to the Bicycle Travel Index Page and choose which area/discussion you think your question should go. Click on that area. In the upper right side of the page there's a button that says New. Click the button - you'll need to list a topic, then add your question below.