Yeah, HVR is pretty tough...there's the initial climb with the switchbacks, but once you get on top of that, there's just two sections of (I believe) 15% or so for a few hundred yards that just crush your soul. The rest of it is just steady rollers and climbing. Very hard to get a rhythm going. I've done it a bunch of times and every time, I think "Never again". But I always go back to it. The descent is just too much fun. 50+ mph down Bandy Canyon is doable.
I may be doing the Tour De Poway on Oct. 1st (still don't know), and HVR is a pretty good workout.
I hardly ever go up Centre City...ever. I don't know why. I'll go up Bear Valley, then Citrus, then El Norte, Ash, Broadway, Jesmond Dene to get up North...or to E.Valley, up Lake Wohlford, West on Woods Valley, N. on Valley Center, W. on Lilac.
Fewer signals, and more variety than CC.