Author Archives: Karan Andrea

Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 4

Day 4, part 1 Joplin, MO to ???? My plan was Amarillo by evening, but I am still in Joplin waiting for mechanical rescue. If it’s electrical, I can fix it. If it’s very basic mechanical, I have a shot at fixing it, but clutches and such are beyond my knowledge. Annnnd that’s where IContinue reading “Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 4”

Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 3

Day 3 St. Louis, MO to Joplin, MO Today. Today was the kind of day that riding is all about for me. This doesn’t mean it was perfect.When I tried to start the bike this morning, the starter button wouldn’t work. I figured something in the ignition might still be soaked from the pressure washingContinue reading “Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 3”

Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 2

Day 2, Part 1 Dayton, OH to St. Louis, MO Because I have not landed yet…I had to wait a bit this morning for fog to burn off, but once it did, it was a beautiful ride thru southern Ohio and then southern Indiana. Missi DeBord Shoemaker and I were going to try to meetContinue reading “Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 2”

Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 1

All the bike prep was in advance of an AMCA road run in Kanab, Utah, June 1, 2, 3, 2021. It is a 6-day ride for me to get there, 3 days of riding, and 6 days home. These stories, like all of my blogs posts, began as Facebook posts. Day 1 Lancaster, NY toContinue reading “Utah Road Run with the Atomic Shovel: Day 1”

The Atomic Shovel Goes to Utah: Shakedown Runs

The Atomic Shovel is HOME!!! Thank you Ivy Vanessa Yapelli for giving me a lift, and for taking the beautiful pics of riding into the sunset! Feeling very John Wayne….pilgrim….Got the bike home, popped the saddlebags on – they bit me – those damn springs. Cleaned and lowered the windshield, put most of the RedContinue reading “The Atomic Shovel Goes to Utah: Shakedown Runs”

The Atomic Shovel Goes to Utah: Bike Prep Front Fender

Atomic update: spent some quality time with the front fender today. I pulled it off for repair and repaint last year – thank you Todd Wilcox – so I have to put all the doodads back on it. It doesn’t seem like I got a lot done today, but getting the tailgunner lights reinstalled tookContinue reading “The Atomic Shovel Goes to Utah: Bike Prep Front Fender”

The Atomic Shovel Goes to Utah: Bike Prep – Saddlebags

Prepping the Atomic Shovel for a 5,000 mile trip to Utah. Even with a rebuilt motor, I am taking tools. When I traveled on this bike in 2019, tool storage in the bubble bags was quite the challenge. They are a funky shape, and I hated that the tool rolls were bouncing around in theContinue reading “The Atomic Shovel Goes to Utah: Bike Prep – Saddlebags”

Nothing Happens Fast on a Shovel – Redux

Prepping the Atomic Shovel for the Tennessee Run Unbeknownst to me, the miles to and from PA wreaked havoc on the bike. I rode it a few times after I returned, and started seeing issues pop up. The forks were leaking oil again, the kicker gasket was leaking fluid, I already knew I needed toContinue reading “Nothing Happens Fast on a Shovel – Redux”