You will rarely do a ride in Burbank or the San Gabriel valley with that rule. LA is better because it's closer to the ocean, and the wind takes its smog and dumps it to the east. Burbank and San Gabriel valley gets it the worst because the mountains hold it in. I got that information at the Green Port Festival from a guy who's entire job is to monitor the smog in one of the "zones" of LA county and surrounding areas.
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It's like riding a bicycle