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"Fear. Guts. More fear. More guts.
Thrill seekers. Every day three big-time risk takers put their
fear on the line for something they believe in."
Ask Niki Gudex about the scariest thing
she's faced on her bike, and her answer just might surprise
you: snakes. "I always see the deadly ones when I'm training,
whether it's here in Sydney or in the United States,"
says Gudex who won the Australian National Series Championship
in downhill in 2001 and cross-country in 2003.
Gudex got her start in cycling at 20 almost
by accident. The snow season was winding down in Australia,
and bad conditions forced Gudex to trade her snowboard for
a bike. A pedal broke and she wheeled herself into a bike
shop to buy a new one. One of the employees asked her if she
raced mountain bikes, and although Gudex had never heard of
the sport, she was intrigued. "It sounded like something
I would enjoy," she says.
Gudex didn't know anybody who rode or where
the best trails were so two days after getting her bike, she
went to a bike race. After that, she began racing every weekend
just so she could ride new trails. "I love to live in
the moment, and when I'm on my bike, I can just enjoy what
I'm doing," she says.
Outdoors:
On the bike every day (alternate recovery rides with four
to five hours in the saddle).
In the gym:
Core work and weights.
Diet:
She eats whenever she's hungry, usually opting for fresh food.
Her newest habit? Wheat grass shots between meals. She also
loves some dark chocolate after a long training ride.
What's Next?
The World Cup Series and the World Championships in New Zealand.
Profile: Karen Asp.
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