jakepounder

Hey guys! I'm Jake, i live in the san fernando valley. As a cyclist i am always looking for a good challenge! I'm just curious, what is your favorite climbs out here? I always do Porter Ranch runs, Santa Sue runs, Mullholand through sepulvada. La Tuna, and thats all i can think of now....but im looking for some more. Maybee some that dont have many cars on them? And some where i can have a fun decent
Thanks!!!

mtrider05

Angeles Crest, Mount Wilson, Little/Big Tujunga, GMR, Mt. Baldy, then there's the Santa Monicas... so many.

mkadam68

+1

Coming out of the Valley, I've always had a love/hate thing with May Canyon. From the north (Santa Clarita) there's Bear Divide/Camp 9 (good climb, few cars, normally). Further north in Castaic: Lake Hughes Rd, Ridge Route Rd.

As for a favorite: I don't have one. As a clyde, I hate climbing.

Rick@OCRR

I agree with what mtrider05 listed and would also add Hwy 39 to Crystal Lake and beyond, to Hwy 2 (which is Angeles Crest).

My favorites are GMR/GRR and Angeles Crest (Angeles Forest is good too, however!).

Rick / OCRR

chefxian

Ooooh Crystal Lake in the winter when its cold and foggy. Super cool. Feel like you are in France.

Been doing a lot of Nichols Canyon. I know its short but we add on Mullholland and Wonder View to Mt Hollywood and the Hollywood sign. That will give you a couple of feet. Not long climbs but steep.

If you feel like getting your teeth kicked in do Chantry 3x. That will take the climbing bug out of you for a day or two.

rooftest

Climb to Mill Creek Summit from Tujunga, then descend the way you came.

TupacInLA

Where in Porter Ranch can you bike that allows for climbs?

KiddSisko

Hi OP, you don't say where you are in the valley, but I heartily recommend the Santa Monicas. They get good right away. The nearest routes are Topanga Canyon, Fernwood, Stunt, Piuma.

53-12

Some of my favorites for that area have already been named, up Big Tujunga / down Angeles Crest especially. A little further away but, up San Francisquito Canyon / down Bouquet Canyon was always good, though it has been a number of years since I last did that one.

big john

I did that one last Saturday with the club,, (SFVBC). The previous Saturday I went out to Acton via Newhall pass and Soledad then up Aliso to Angeles Forest and down Big Tujunga.

Biker395 

To me, a great climb has little traffic, great views and the reward of a great descent. Nothing worse than struggling up a 10% grade for miles, then having to ride the brakes most of the way down because the surface is so crappy (Yerba Buena comes to mind, for example).

In the San Gabriels? GMR/GRR. Little traffic, great views, and fun descents on the way back down. 39 is a nice climb, but the road surface isn't so hot.

In the Santa Monicas? Tough choice between Piuma and Latigo. Piuma has awesome views, but Latigo's got a better descent, IMHO.

Palos Verdes: The switchbacks to the radar domes.

jakepounder

You ride with them as well? hmm, well i was looking on their website and its usually the same climbs as the month before. But, this month they seemed to change it up a little taking us up past new hall..

mrflip69

Going up, ACH for sure. Nice steady grind, wide/smooth pavement, motorists are pretty friendly to share the road. Water stop at Redbox with good tasting tap water.

Going down, GMR no contest! Tough climb if you're going up GMR... much easier to approach from East fork, but the descent is a great reward.

39 to Crystal Lake, if it's not too hot. Another steady grind. Sparse traffice after East fork... Loved drinking from the mini waterfall. Fresh, ice cold water on a 98 degree day that didn't give me the runs!

big john

I've been a member since 1989 and have met lots of good friends there. If you haven't been to a club ride, just show up and start getting to know some people and you'll figure out who you like to ride with.
3 or 4 rides to choose from on Saturdays and most everyone does a short (25-30 mile) ride on Sundays.

rubic

Tubac, in Porter Ranch from Rinaldi you can ride up Reseda, Wilber, Tampa, Corbin-Porter Ranch Road and Mason. These are all somewhat short rides but you can string a few repeats together for a decent hill climb day. However, the other rides listed in this thread are quite awesome and worth riding.