March 2011

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Snow riding!

Chris Birch Turkey Snow Riding
Chris Birch Turkey Snow Riding
Chris Birch Turkey Snow Enduro Practice

we managed to get in some training on the bikes yesterday afternoon once we had done the bike set up in the morning. it was still bloody cold - about -1 degree! I managed to borrow some gloves and a jacket and get my snow ride on - it's awesome riding in the snow, totally different, the snow is really powdery, it's unlike riding on anything else.

hard to teach people new skills though, but today we'll focus on preparing the body for enduro, diet, training, and then back out for hill climbs and more practice.

Time for work!

Chris Birch Turkey Enduro Coaching
Chris Birch Turkey Enduro Coaching
Chris Birch Turkey Snow view

Time to work today! We arrived last night in the snow, amazing and good for scenery - but am wondering how we will cope for coaching...

We're based in the local KTM shop which is really well kitted out, and has a nice fireplace in the middle. Spent the morning going through the theory component of the lesson, the guys are really keen and interested which is always nice. Taught them basic bike set up, quite a few adjustments to be made.

Cappadocia

Chris Birch Turkey travelling
Chris Birch Turkey Underground City
Chris Birch Turkey Cappadocia Travel

Mon and I were lucky enough to have a few days in Cappadocia in Turkey. It was amazing, we went on a full day tour through incredible cave cities, and learnt a lot about how the caves were carved out around the 12th century. They also had many pigeon holes carved into the caves, and they used the pigeons for communication.

My favourite part of the tour was visiting the underground city, there are hundreds of these and the one we visited has been cleared out 4 levels for tourism. These took many years to form and were built below cities for protection from attacks.

This is how its done

İ found this on youtube, its pretty funny. This is what monıca would look lıke ın a Motocross race!

Kapadokya is freezing

Yesterday we broke the drought ın Kemer. It raıned solıdly all day but ıt wasnt enough to stop us gettıng out on the traıls for more of Kemers sweet rıdıng. Today we got up at stupıd o clock and caught a plane to Cappadocıa a world herıtage sıte near the center of Turkey. Its an amazıng place but freezıng cold, Im wearıng all the clothes I have wıth me and ıts not really enough. As soon as I can I wıll get some photos up as the cave houses and rock formatıons here are ıncredıble.

Riding in Kemer, Turkey

Chris Birch Turkey Extreme Enduro
Chris Birch Turkey Extreme Enduro

Today I rode the track for Kemer Enduro club's Sea to Sky race. We couldn't quite get to to the top of Mt Tahtali due to the snow but had a sweet ride anyway.The track was really good with lots of loose rocks that had me lying on my arse a few times... It was great to be riding bikes in the mountains again and there was no complaints from my stomach.

Chilling in Turkey

Chris Birch Mount Tahtali Turkey Extreme Enduro
Chris Birch Turkey Extreme Enduro Scout
Chris Birch Turkey Extreme Enduro Scout

We are in Turkey for some Enduro Schools but wisely came early to check out the country. Today we went to the top of Mount Tahtali, finish line of a local extreme race then went on a cruise along the coast line. Not a bad way to spend the day! Checking out the race track tomorrow, it will be good to get back on a bike.