Pragmasis chain heads to Africa to help find fossils!

A Pragmasis Protector 11mm chain is heading into some of the most remote terrain on Earth, helping protect an e-bike used in cutting-edge fossil research across southern Africa.

We recently donated a 4-metre length of 11mm chain to Steve, a fossil researcher who relies on his e-MTB to access remote fossil sites in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Already using a previously donated 2.5m chain, he needed a longer solution for even more remote locations, where suitable anchor points are scarce — and often much larger. Nature’s bike racks aren’t always convenient!

The photo shows Douglas the hippo, who was raised by Steve and his wife from a tiny baby to a large male. Before being weaned, he allowed their Jack Russell dogs to lick the remains of the milk from his open mouth.

Out in the bush, security presents very different challenges. When exploring fossil sites, Steve often leaves his bike out of sight for hours — sometimes overnight — while searching on foot.

A longer chain allows him to secure the bike to large trees, making it significantly harder for opportunistic thieves to remove or tamper with it, even in isolated environments.

Angle grinders or bolt-croppers are never encountered where he goes. Home-made axes are common, but the hardened 11mm steel chain will defeat them.

Steve's work frequently involves:

• Studying satellite imagery to identify promising fossil locations
• Navigating rough, unmapped terrain
• Spending nights in the bush with minimal equipment
• Covering distances of 40km+ on exploratory rides

An e-MTB plays a crucial role in extending his range and efficiency — but only if it can be kept secure while unattended.

The bike Steve chose for such a tough task is a Riese & Müller Delite Mountain, fitted with a Rohloff 14-speed gear hub for longevity and low maintenance. The bike is fitted with tyres that have a rigid plastic protection layer to prevent punctures from thorns, which are common.

Built for Real-World Use

While most customers use Pragmasis chains in urban environments, it’s always rewarding to see them performing in extreme and unconventional scenarios. From city streets to remote wilderness, the goal remains the same: protecting what matters. And as this story shows, that sometimes means safeguarding not just a bike, but the work behind the next scientific discovery.

When Steve is not looking for fossils, he and his wife look after orphaned and/or injured animals. He also helps his wife run their conservation education centre, teaching local schoolchildren to learn about their wildlife, hopefully to inspire them to conserve it. Many of their former pupils are now employed as wildlife scouts, conservation educators, ecologists, safari guides, etc. See www.chipembele.org