How about
Tunitas Creek? It starts gradual and becomes steep in the infamous middle section. There is low traffic and it is plenty scenic. The surface is patchy, so it isn't such a great descent. What would be the least harrowing way back down? The
classic 84 loop?.
Or how about
Old La Honda West as a climb? It has a 3.7% grade and very little traffic. Is there a non-harrowing descent that we could use?
Some of this is described with photo's
here and
here. The Western Wheelers have a listing of climbs
here.