Old La Honda

Where it is

Old La Honda Road climbs from Portola Valley on the San Francisco peninsula up the eastern flank of the Santa Cruz Mountains to Skyline Boulevard. It is the quieter, older parallel to Highway 84, which descends the other side toward La Honda. The climb is roughly 5.5 km at 7.3 percent.

What makes it iconic

Old La Honda is the de facto fitness benchmark for Silicon Valley cyclists. Sub-20 minutes is a strong amateur time; sub-17 marks an elite local; the Strava KOM is currently in the low-14-minute range. Because the gradient is so consistent (between 6 and 9 percent for almost the entire climb), it is a near-perfect FTP test.

The road is narrow, shaded by second-growth redwood, and rarely sees significant motor traffic. The surface is patchy in places but rideable. There is no traffic light, no flat section, no descent - once you start, you climb.

Race history

There is no professional race on Old La Honda, but it has appeared in countless local races, the legendary "Tour de Peninsula" event, and the Low Key Hill Climb series. Strava effectively turned it into the most-tracked climb in the United States.

Pacing

Treat it as a 20-minute time trial. Open at 95 to 100 percent of FTP, settle by the first hairpin, and lift in the last kilometre as the gradient eases slightly above the second cattle guard. The bottom is the steepest; do not blow up in the first three minutes chasing your screen.

Practical notes

The road is narrow - when descending Highway 84 down the other side after the summit, ride conservatively, especially in wet weather. Best ridden early morning or late afternoon when traffic is lowest. There is a water fountain at the top of Skyline. Combine with Page Mill or Tunitas for a classic Bay Area loop.