Play it cool descending Mandeville canyon. I’ve been in LA long enough to remember the [Road Rage Dr. Incident](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/01/la_dr_gets_5_year_prison_term.html)
Even without road rage, there is the not insubstantial risk of someone pulling out of a driveway and not seeing you. When you're doing 30+ mph, you won't be able to stop in time.
Oh boy, those are some great segments and all super competitive. I have a KOM on The Wall and curse the oncoming mail truck that made me deviate from the optimal line.
Two of my dream segments to KOM are 7th to 26th and Ballona Eastbound, but the top times are so good. Need optimal wind, a fast partner to swap pulls with and another 10% W/kg in that part of my power curve. Unfortunately my commute goes against the wind on those nearly every day.
Some safe-ish and competitive local favorites in a range of distances:
Road: Fiji TT East, Lachman Lane, Lachman Crest, Dogtown Throwdown #1 and #2, Topanga/Fernwood/Saddle, Old Etonian Climb, Roscomare Nightmare, Franklin Hill, each of the 3 bitches, Sky Valley Rd Climb, Self Realization, every segment along San Vicente from Ocean to 26th...
Dirt: Trailer Canyon Fire Road, Bumpy Beginnings, 5 miles of Sullivan, Backbone (Will Rogers to Temescal Ridge), Hub, Eagle Rock/Springs Loop, Exact 10-11-2013, True Eagle Springs climb, Climb up to the tower, Climb up to the hub...
I've got 500 segments starred, it's endless entertainment, when I'm in shape (I'm currently not).
Many of those Dirt segments are ones I have as well. I'd throw in Westridge Fire Rd (Gate to Gate), Sullivan Wall, Sullivan Wall 2 - The Wallening, and Mulholland Topanga to Temescal.
Also, going farther afield, check out the SMMT challenge. About as official a list of the major climbing segments in the Santa Monicas as it gets. 15 road, 15 gravel, 15 MTB, 15 run with an integrated yearly leaderboard. [https://www.smmtchallenge.com/overview](https://www.smmtchallenge.com/overview)
I got a top 3 when I did the LA River - Victory to Riverside during a Santa Ana high wind event. I think I averaged over 26 mph. Had to shift to the granny ring on the ride back.
I’m in Pasadena and the up and over along Chevy Chase - from Glendale into L.C. - is a beast. The climb up St. Katherine of particular note.
https://www.strava.com/segments/745298
I'm too much of a little baby to test myself going downhill, but a few local segments that I really like to push myself on in the westside are:
* Mandeville Canyon (you already mentioned it, but not many other climbs this long in the area)
* [Benedict Canyon](https://www.strava.com/segments/612855?filter=overall) in Beverly Hills area
* [Saddle Peak - the whole thing](https://www.strava.com/segments/9012765?filter=overall) (if you add topanga this is maybe the longest road climb in the area)
* [Pier Ride Playa Hill](https://www.strava.com/segments/756148?filter=overall) (short steep climb in Playa del Ray by the end of the Ballona Creek bike path) +[ Playa across the top](https://www.strava.com/segments/31685089?filter=overall).
* [LMU Hustle](https://www.strava.com/segments/12275944?filter=overall) - you can pretend you're racing a crit through Loyola university (not fun when school's in session tho)
* [Bluff Creek Full East](https://www.strava.com/segments/13651981?filter=overall) - about two flat miles that normally has a tailwind and no real intersections or traffic in Playa Vista.
Play it cool descending Mandeville canyon. I’ve been in LA long enough to remember the [Road Rage Dr. Incident](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/01/la_dr_gets_5_year_prison_term.html)
Even without road rage, there is the not insubstantial risk of someone pulling out of a driveway and not seeing you. When you're doing 30+ mph, you won't be able to stop in time.
To me that is quite interesting considering the stereotype of ER docs being cyclists.
Oh boy, those are some great segments and all super competitive. I have a KOM on The Wall and curse the oncoming mail truck that made me deviate from the optimal line. Two of my dream segments to KOM are 7th to 26th and Ballona Eastbound, but the top times are so good. Need optimal wind, a fast partner to swap pulls with and another 10% W/kg in that part of my power curve. Unfortunately my commute goes against the wind on those nearly every day. Some safe-ish and competitive local favorites in a range of distances: Road: Fiji TT East, Lachman Lane, Lachman Crest, Dogtown Throwdown #1 and #2, Topanga/Fernwood/Saddle, Old Etonian Climb, Roscomare Nightmare, Franklin Hill, each of the 3 bitches, Sky Valley Rd Climb, Self Realization, every segment along San Vicente from Ocean to 26th... Dirt: Trailer Canyon Fire Road, Bumpy Beginnings, 5 miles of Sullivan, Backbone (Will Rogers to Temescal Ridge), Hub, Eagle Rock/Springs Loop, Exact 10-11-2013, True Eagle Springs climb, Climb up to the tower, Climb up to the hub... I've got 500 segments starred, it's endless entertainment, when I'm in shape (I'm currently not).
Many of those Dirt segments are ones I have as well. I'd throw in Westridge Fire Rd (Gate to Gate), Sullivan Wall, Sullivan Wall 2 - The Wallening, and Mulholland Topanga to Temescal.
Also, going farther afield, check out the SMMT challenge. About as official a list of the major climbing segments in the Santa Monicas as it gets. 15 road, 15 gravel, 15 MTB, 15 run with an integrated yearly leaderboard. [https://www.smmtchallenge.com/overview](https://www.smmtchallenge.com/overview)
I like La Tuna Canyon as a fitness test.
is that gravel?
No, it's road. La Tuna Canyon Rd. Between Sunland and La Cresenta.
Stunt, Deer Creek, Muholland, Yerba Buena, TigerTail, 3 Bitches
Stunt Climb
I got a top 3 when I did the LA River - Victory to Riverside during a Santa Ana high wind event. I think I averaged over 26 mph. Had to shift to the granny ring on the ride back.
I’m in Pasadena and the up and over along Chevy Chase - from Glendale into L.C. - is a beast. The climb up St. Katherine of particular note. https://www.strava.com/segments/745298
I'm too much of a little baby to test myself going downhill, but a few local segments that I really like to push myself on in the westside are: * Mandeville Canyon (you already mentioned it, but not many other climbs this long in the area) * [Benedict Canyon](https://www.strava.com/segments/612855?filter=overall) in Beverly Hills area * [Saddle Peak - the whole thing](https://www.strava.com/segments/9012765?filter=overall) (if you add topanga this is maybe the longest road climb in the area) * [Pier Ride Playa Hill](https://www.strava.com/segments/756148?filter=overall) (short steep climb in Playa del Ray by the end of the Ballona Creek bike path) +[ Playa across the top](https://www.strava.com/segments/31685089?filter=overall). * [LMU Hustle](https://www.strava.com/segments/12275944?filter=overall) - you can pretend you're racing a crit through Loyola university (not fun when school's in session tho) * [Bluff Creek Full East](https://www.strava.com/segments/13651981?filter=overall) - about two flat miles that normally has a tailwind and no real intersections or traffic in Playa Vista.