Speaking from experience. Standing wave will exceed the climb performance of a C172 by a considerable margin. I have witnessed standing wave off Cunninghams Gap peg the VSI in a C172 in both climb AND descent. It is a wierd sensation to see the VSI showing 3000fpm climb and the altimeter winding up like you are in a fighter then a short while later have the VSI do exactly the opposite. Do not do what my instructor made me do and turn parrallel to the ridge. Imagine trying to descend and keep below the yellow arc and still be going up at 2000fpm
Either maintain best angle if enough height to clear the ridge by a large margin and avoid the rotor or do a 180 away from the ridge.
To answer original question= Best Angle. The reason being that you want to get maximum performance for whatever distance you are traveling in downdraft.