The downhill is THE most exciting piece of trail i've ridden. There's nothing more i hate than climbing, but i'll gladly loop around and climb that retarded granny gear beast of a lung busting climb to ride back down over and over again. I rode it for the 1st time during the night ride, which gave me little time to re-think the stupidity of rolling down some challenging rock faces i couldn't see properly till i was in too deep. I returned 2 mornings later and Wendell n his crew had neatened up the climb to make it 100% rideable,(albeit in the granniest gear u have). The view from the top is amazing, you can stop n take it all in while u drink your water bottle, 3 litre camelbak, riding partner's camelbak, and sweat from your socks all flat after the climb... DO NOT take your beginner,takkie wearing roadie friends up there unless they're prepared to walk most of it... Its definitely an intermediate and up skill level section. DO go up and walk it once to see what it's about and to give you a goal to aspire to in terms of where you need your riding to be to enjoy the absolute most fun you can have on a bicycle. i gaurantee a HUGE, uncontrollable grin when youve successfully ridden it from top to bottom. Yafta is totally rideable, the small sharp climb shortly after you enter it is not a compulsory portage. I'm by no means the strongest 'athlete' when it comes to climbing, but i've made it up all 3 times i've ridden it. Abraham is the 2nd best piece of trail i've ever ridden, giving you awesome forest downhills and twisty flowing singletrack. I'm Rietvei's biggest fan, but i can honestly say, in terms of a challenging trail, Thaba cant be beaten. And that's in it's current form. Wendell n the guys are continually improving and adding and creating what's going be the SICKEST trail in JHB...
