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Terra Femme
Why she rides, and why Playboy didn’t cut it for her. Niki Gudex gets intimate with us.
By Aaron Martinez
Photos by Tom Holland
 So why biking?
I love biking because it cuts away all the junk and clutter. When you’re on a bike with someone, it really humanizes that person and brings a truth and awareness to the moment. If you’re going up a climb and someone’s suffering, you’re not going to laugh; you’ll feel sympathy and encourage him or her. It’s not like going out to a bar and people putting on nice dresses, getting drunk, and rambling. Riding is a shared experience based on instinct. Biking is a very universal language in itself. If you encounter a complete stranger, you’d help them if they had a flat, you’d offer help. The biking code is the same in many countries.
But your former coach James Herrera said he’s seen you “flat-out walk away from expert/semipro downhillers.” Should guys looking to ride with you be afraid?
Well, I don’t go on rides looking to beat people. I definitely race to win, but a ride is more about the shared experience and seeing people enjoy themselves. I do enjoy being stronger than a guy, but it is not what counts at the end of the day. However, if a guy were rude or arrogant, then I’d love to put him in his place.
How would you describe your riding style?
Fluid. I want to apply that to my whole life. Looking at the body, you know it’s made up of water, so you want to bring fluidity into the movements. It’s the same with biking. You want to pick a line like water down a trail and be smooth and consistent. It’s about balance. Like much of life, it all comes back to balance.
But traveling so much, how do you balance family time with everything else?
We’ve grown up traveling and all have an understanding that it’s only 24 hours to get home. My family lives in Australia, and I always look forward to coming back to them.
Do you bike with them when you go home?
Yeah. I gave one of my brothers a bike two years ago, and I’ve been teaching my mom to ride a mountain bike. I’ve seen the benefits of it being a low-impact sport. My brother likes the adrenaline aspect of downhill riding. He does both cross-country and downhill riding, and he has a natural ability to see lines on the trail.
How many brothers do you have?
Three. They’re all younger. Ben is 23, Tim is 28, and Sam is 21.
Do things ever get competitive with them?
Not really. I have always been the oldest, so they know I am the boss! Kidding. We get along really well; we all have different talents and abilities, so there is no need to compete.
 So racing gives you that competitive outlet?
Once the gun goes off you can't be thinking about something else. In a race all you can be thinking about is coming across the line first. You get this great focus and clarity, like a cat chasing a mouse. I love racing because if you win, nobody can take that from you. If you’re doing well in races, you can only do that by being physically in good shape, and that’s why I’ve been drawn to it. Though, as I get older, it’s more about enjoying the experience and not carrying a chip on my shoulder to prove I’m a good rider.
Glen Jacobs has been a longtime friend of yours. He’s also arguably the most sought-after mountain-bike trail builder on earth. He said he’s built trails with you in mind. Have you ever ridden one of his trails and talked about it with him later?
Definitely. I have even walked one of his trails with him; it was the World Champs course for 2009. He builds beautiful trails, with flowing and technical sections. He is a rider and so passionate about the sport, and you need both of those to build the caliber of trail that he is capable of. He has an amazing mind, and that definitely comes into use when he designs trails.
And when your foot’s healed you can ride them. How’s the recovery going?
It’s going well. My foot is almost fully healed now. I’m riding road and mountain bikes, doing yoga and some physio work as well.
What’s your biking schedule for 2008?
I’ll be in the U.S. from May until the end of early October, doing local races in Idaho, where I have a home. I’m excited about Downieville: it’s a really cool race. I like Downieville because Chris King [legendary mountain biker and self-appointed chef for the race] makes everyone breakfast in the morning. I’m more serious about 2009. Until then, I’m training and trying to make sure that my foot’s healing right.
If it doesn’t heal, would you reconsider appearing in Playboy, which you once turned down?
It wasn’t about nudity. The shoot was going to be in a swimsuit, but it’s just the concept of being in Playboy. I wanted to save my parents from that. That, and I didn’t want to be known as an athlete once in Playboy. I want to be known as a bike rider.
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