Jura Watches Sponsors Leigh Timmis as He Sets Cycling World Record

Earlier this year, Jura Watches proudly sponsored Leigh Timmis, a record-breaking ultra-endurance cyclist from Derby as he set to break yet another world record. This time, he aimed to transcend the record for “Greatest Distance Cycled in Seven Days”. To help him do just that, Leigh was equipped with all the necessary kit required including a Garmin Fenix 7 smartwatch and an accompanying heart rate monitor, supplied by sponsors Jura Watches.

Breaking the Record

On the 7th of November 2022, Leigh Timmis from Derby set off from Miami, Florida in the hopes of breaking a 90-year-old record for the greatest distance cycled in seven days. The previous record, which stood at 2,211 (3,558km), would require Timmis to cover over 300 miles (482km) a day for seven days. After hearing of his plans, C W Sellors Jura Watches had to get involved and support Timmis as his sponsor. From the moment he set off, Jura Watches supported the world record attempt and even gifted him a Garmin Fenix 7 watch and a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor to help him track his health, stamina and journey. 

On Day 1, Leigh Timmis, acclimatised and trained to perfection, achieved 345 miles with ease. But as the days went on, Hurricane Nicole decided to make an appearance, making the gruelling journey even harder. A storm of this magnitude had not been seen in Florida since 1935 meaning Timmis had to endure terrible wind and rain on route. Yet despite this obstacle, he persevered and still managed over 290 miles each day. On Day 7, exhausted and sore, he made it to the finish line with 341 miles under his belt and a whopping 2,230 miles ridden in total over the seven days.

“After 18 months of planning and training, I was not going to let a hurricane stop me. Hurricane Nicole completely blew our strategies out of the window!  The team switched to dynamic risk assessment and improvised new procedures to get me over the finish line and break the world record. It was a gargantuan effort by all the team, who were amazingly professional, passionate and enthusiastic throughout.” – Leigh Timmis

Beating the previous record by 19 miles, Leigh Timmis becomes the official Guinness World record holder for the Greatest Distance Cycled in Seven Days. Having already spent seven years on an epic 44,000-mile cycle across the globe and holding the current record for the Fastest Cycle Across Europe, Timmis shows once again his talents for endurance, speed and stamina. As part of the event, Leigh has also been raising money for the mental health charity MQ which aims to transform mental health, as he has suffered from depression himself. He explains that the charity was the only one scientifically researching mental health “with the aim to create a world where mental illness is understood, effectively treated, and ultimately prevented”. 

The Garmin Fenix 7

As part of Jura Watches' sponsorship of Leigh Timmis, he was gifted one of Garmin’s latest premium smartwatches, the Fenix 7. The multisport GPS watch was a necessary companion for him during his exhausting journey, sitting lightweight on the wrist thanks to its titanium build and boasting apps that monitored his stamina, heart rate, the weather, route and much more.

Leigh comments on the watch: “The Garmin Fenix 7 was a key component in breaking the record, it was essential for evidencing, only needing an hour charge each day to record 24/7 GPS track logs of me on the bike from cycling sensors. When the weather was at its worst, the Fenix kept working unlike the smartphone we were using that died in the height of the storm! Not only did it provide vital data when I was on the bike, it also provided data on my sleep and stress enabling the science team to plan strategies that optimised my performance. I love using the Fenix. It provides all the sports data I need to perform at world class level, it's intuitive to use, and its elegant appearance makes it a great everyday watch”

One of many ground-breaking features found on the Garmin Fenix 7 watch found useful by Leigh is the Body Battery Energy Monitor. This innovative app uses your heart rate variability, stress, sleep and other data to gauge when you're ready to be active or when you may need a rest. In Leigh’s case, it allowed him to see which days he could push further and which days he needed to reserve some of his energy for the rest of the journey. Similarly, the recovery time advisor was essential during his training, letting him know he was ready for another hard work out and even counting for training intensity and factors such as stress, daily activity and sleep.

The Garmin Fenix 7 watch also boasts innovative features like a wrist-based heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox sensor, advanced performance metrics, training status and training readiness. The Real Time Stamina function is a fairly new feature from Garmin which tracks and manages your exertion which in turn helps you avoid over exerting before you hit the finish line. On the touchscreen display, you’ll see a percentage number which reflects how much you have left in the tank at your current level of effort. Alongside it, you’ll know your potential stamina as the watch takes into account longer-lasting fatigue contributors.

Alongside a long list of apps for cycling and general fitness, the Garmin Fenix 7 is a fully equipped GPS smartwatch with a fantastic range of navigational tools to help you find cycling and hiking routes. There’s preloaded full-colour TopoActive mapping and ABC sensors for altimeter for elevation data, barometer to monitor weather and 3-axis electronic compass. The Up Ahead feature also gives you at-a-glance awareness of selected POI checkpoints ahead such as drink, food and toilet stops. Finally, you’ll find sleep and stress tracking apps, smart notifications, music storage, Garmin Pay and safety and tracking features all within the Garmin Fenix 7 watch.

If you’re looking to start your own fitness journey or you’re training to break your own world record, do it right with a Garmin Fenix 7 smartwatch. You can shop the full collection here at Jura Watches or by contacting our team of specialists on 01335 453453. Alternatively, get in touch at sales@cwsellors.com.