Jean-Philippe Patthey arrives to Lapataia National Park at the end of Tissot Transamerica Expedition, on December 20, 2008 in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Jean-Philippe Patthey arrives to Lapataia National Park at the end of Tissot Transamerica Expedition, on December 20, 2008 in Ushuaia, Argentina.

NEW YORK, Dec 26, 2008 / FW/ — It took Jean-Philippe Patthey, who started in Alaska on August 22, 2008 and finished December 20, 2008 in Ushuaia, Argentina 119 days, 22 hours and 15 minutes to travel by bike the PanAmerican Highway beating the old record of 140 days.

With Tissot as the official timekeeper and the Tissot T-Touch Expert watch as the official timepiece, Jean-Philippe Patthey biked his way into history wherein he covered an average of 125 miles/200 kilometers a day to travel the 15,346 miles/24,698 kilometers between Alaska and Ushuaia, Argentina at that record pace.

Waking up at the crack of dawn courtesy of the alarm incorporated in his Tissot watch, Patthey will ride from 6:00 AM and ride twelve hours until it was too dark for him to continue. The retired baker from Switzerland also used his watch to keep track of the temperature and elevation of the terrain while he travels. The built-in compass in the chronometer also made sure that Patthey did not get lost.

An amazing record accomplished with an amazing watch as a constant companion. Still, what is more amazing is that the 57-year old Patthey who had undergone three heart surgeries is the new world record holder of Tissot TransAmerica Expedition.

“Who would have thought that I could accomplish this?” said Patthey. “It shows what ordinary people can do if they put their minds to it.”

Tissot, the TransAmerica’s official sponsor, salutes the man and the achievement.