On that commute thing.... I think basically from the Springs up to at least Longmont, maybe up to Ft. Collins.........is pretty sucky most of the time. I live out on 76 and ride in Early...it's not a bad deal coming home that way either. My suck factor is dealing with all the trucks through Commerce City and the gung ho LEO's there. They like their radar equipment pretty good.
I don't think I could deal with that nasty ass rush hour stuff that most folks put up with, to the point that if faced with it, I would just find residency in the neighborhood that my work is located at. Ride a bike, or even walk to work kind of deal.
Someday I would like to have 80 acres out east somewhere.....figuring out how to do that without the daily grind job is still eluding me.