Cross-country cicling is not yet as popular in Turkey as in many European countries, but it is gaining ground. The surface tends to be fairly rough crushed-stone asphalt, not the best for cycling, but certainly bearable to an experienced cyclist. The major drawbacks are not the surface but the speed and attentiveness of the traffic: the first is often excessive, the second is not. You must ride defensively. Also, some older roads are narrower and have steeper grades and sharper turns than the many improved roads now found in the country. This is not so bad for a biker, but makes them a bit more dangerous. Luckily, much of the traffic on the older roads has shifted to the newer ones.