Masters, a misnomer:
In the most honored sense of the word the Masters class of cycling is actually are not experts but comprised of true amateurs, whose love of the sport is evident. Wonderful racing, wonderfully simple people in search of a rainbow jersey whose five colored stripes are deliberately narrow, such is the shortsighted UCI (in my opinion).
One of whom I (briefly) write is (retired) Dr. David Mulica, with whom Mitch, Rich, and Steve will ride with tomorrow in the Team Pursuit. Dr. Mulica was on the 1972 Olympic Team Pursuit Team and rode in the 1974 Worlds (with me).
Between the two of us (above) David has maintained his athletic physic and character. Known as “The Bulldog, The Bullfrog, The Iceman, The Count, Zatoichi, and a host of other names; David is a cool customer and difficult to impress.
Naturally I have a number of stories I could share about Mulica; but let’s hold off on the details til after our boys (Steve, Mitch, and Rich) have the opportunity to ride with him. Suffice it to say he is indeed a product of South Bay, a champion who’s lapped the field in a number of criteriums here in Southern California, whose prowess on “the ax” and baritone singing voice has been known to rewrite the lyrics to Sympathy for the Devil.
Now a denizen of Colorado David Mulica is here to challenge the World in the company of (some of) our training group.
My friend David Mulica. Look for him this week but if you try to address him and get the cold shoulder; don’t be surprised. Like his doppelgänger, Jan Michael Vincent, he’s too cool for school. But it’s just an act. He’s really a nice person and a good friend - and (like me) just “full of it”.
Ride hard and have fun,
Roger