Southern California - Yerba Buena vs Latigo

I am fairly new to road biking but I have really come to enjoy climbing. Everyone seems to mention Latigo when talking about riding in the Malibu area. I think Yerba Buena is a bit more challenging than Latigo and a beautiful ride as well. No one seems to mention this climb. It's nice to have the variety.

Probably because it's out in Ventura County and less convenient to get to than Latigo.

Both are great climbs. When you get to the top of Yerba/Little Sycamore and descend to Mulholland Hwy you have to be careful. The road surface sucks and there are a few unexpectedly tight little turns.

Probably because it's out in Ventura County and less convenient to get to than Latigo.

Yerba Buena is 5 minutes away from Latigo Canyon on PCH.

It's probably because Yerba Buena is secluded/isolated.

Yerba is definitely in need of repair. While climbing it a couple weeks back we noted the pavement will be gravel in no time at all.

As for difficulty, I would say Yerba is more difficult that Latigo to climb due to the gradient average being higher.

Yerba Buena is 5 minutes away from Latigo Canyon on PCH.

It's probably because Yerba Buena is secluded/isolated.

Um no...it's 13 miles or another 20 mintues away, by car.

Latigo is very easy

Oh man Yerba is in terrible condition. To decend it is life threatening. Last year on the Mulholland Challenge a woman from Vegas crashed on a sharp turn near the trailhead park and hit that awful pavement face first. I think her handlebars either broke or rolled over. I never decend Yerba. I like to climb up to the top though via Little Sycamore then turn around and take Mulholland down to PCH. The view from the top of Yerba is really the best in the Santa Monicas. You are looking down into Hidden Valley and Lake Sherwood, across to the mountains behind Santa Paula and Filmore, the San Gabriels, plus the pacific ocean and the islands. Oh and I left out Sandstone Peak. The highest point in the Santa Monicas at 4k. It's obvious Ventura County cares little about the condition of this road. Coming up Little Syc. at the county line the name changes and the road surface does too.

Latigo is very easy

Then your doing it all wrong.!:eek:

The road surface sucks and there are a few unexpectedly tight little turns.
I actually like the challenge of the rough road surface of Yerba. I wouldn't want to do an entire century on this kind of surface, but it's a nice change for a few miles. On the descents my handlebars rattle like a jackhammer.

But for sure, it does require extra care, especially on the turns. As always, bicycling is so much about safety, safety, safety. If you're on a surface that you are not used to riding on, take it real easy until you know what you are up against.

And 0-yes, the views along Yerba are the most beautiful and most rugged of the Santa Monicas.

Um no...it's 13 miles or another 20 mintues away, by car.

Ah.. you're right! Sorry I confused it with decker canyon. :crash:

Then your doing it all wrong.!:eek:

???

Went up Yerba B today. Great climb,it is tuff!
Would you say its harder than little T? maby but if you add on camp 9 its close.
Great rides we have here in SoCal.

to Ben FR if Latigo seems easy then you need to go harder !

???He's just saying it's only as easy as you make it. I time myself on climbs and always try to beat my old time, so I make them all hurt. But I get what you are saying as far as grade, you could just sit and spin up it.

Ah.. you're right! Sorry I confused it with decker canyon. :crash:

Yerba Buena is further out than Decker.

In order of difficulty, Yerba Buena is "hardest", Latigo is "easiest" and Decker is in between.

Yerba Buena is further out than Decker.

In order of difficulty, Yerba Buena is "hardest", Latigo is "easiest" and Decker is in between.

Yeah... oh man, yea yerba was awesome with a small car and that decker canyon will destroy the heck out of your car suspension if you're pushing limits, the elevation changes mid-turn are drastic... oh man, the teenage years were fun. :lol:

I'm not confident enough to tackle that with a bicycle yet. :o

Oh man Yerba is in terrible condition. To decend it is life threatening. Last year on the Mulholland Challenge a woman from Vegas crashed on a sharp turn near the trailhead park and hit that awful pavement face first. I think her handlebars either broke or rolled over. I never decend Yerba. I like to climb up to the top though via Little Sycamore then turn around and take Mulholland down to PCH. The view from the top of Yerba is really the best in the Santa Monicas. You are looking down into Hidden Valley and Lake Sherwood, across to the mountains behind Santa Paula and Filmore, the San Gabriels, plus the pacific ocean and the islands. Oh and I left out Sandstone Peak. The highest point in the Santa Monicas at 4k. It's obvious Ventura County cares little about the condition of this road. Coming up Little Syc. at the county line the name changes and the road surface does too.

That is one reason why I am not doing Mulholland Challenge this year, that part of the route is awful!
Also there is construction going on, on the road prior to Deer Creek.

That is one reason why I am not doing Mulholland Challenge this year, that part of the route is awful!
Also there is construction going on, on the road prior to Deer Creek.

Really, where is the construction?

Oh yeah, I was thinking of Deer Creek before... I've never climbed the lower part of Yerba.

Really, where is the construction?

Here is a quote pulled from the "other" forum:

PS
Yes, we know about the construction on Schueren... and NO, we're not going to change the route. It's ride-able and/or walk-able for a very very short stretch.

Here is a quote pulled from the "other" forum:

PS
Yes, we know about the construction on Schueren... and NO, we're not going to change the route. It's ride-able and/or walk-able for a very very short stretch.

Oh! Scheuren is at the top of Stunt Rd. That's the part you descend to get to Piuma once you've summited Stunt. They've been doing roadwork on it at the top.

I don't mind Yerba Buena. Going up it's just annoying, and coming down I find I can control my speed to keep within my comfort level. Descending Deer Creek, OTOH, truly sucks- bad surface for much of it, and it's wicked steep. Hard to stay at a comfortable speed coming down.

I hate Decker more, much more, and that's been repaved recently. :twitchy:

I rode up Yerba Buena today...ugh it really sucks. Beauty doesn't matter when the road quality is abysmal! Latigo is soooo much better.