Hwy 33 from Ventura to Ojai has a nice separate bike trail. Weekdays are better than weekends once back on Hwy 33 heading to Pine Mountain Summit. The road has mostly been repaved up to the summit in the last two years but a lack of shoulders remains so be highly visible. Much of the climbing is gradual but mostly continuous with some steep pitches but that is what granny gears are for.
On your route beyond Bakersfield consider the Bodfish-Caliente Road East of the Hwy 178 Canyon- much quieter alternative which rejoins 178 near Lake Isabella.
California Dream Cycling by Bodfish[Chuck Elliot] gives some alternatives in the Sierra Foothills that may be useful to you. ISBN 0-9616709-1-6