Jim Davies moved to Canada at age ten, and lived in the BC interior until he moved with his family to Vancouver in 1919. Much of his cycling training came through his job as a telegraph messenger boy; at two-and-a-half cents per message the faster you delivered, the more money you made. Many racers of the day were C.N.R. delivery boys.

In 1924, Davies placed second in the Daily Province race. He won this race and the Victoria Colonist race for the next four consecutive years from 1924-28. In 1925, he won the first of four consecutive BC championships from 1925-28 and took all BC titles from short sprints to the twenty-five mile inaugural Pacific Coast championship.

As his prowess on the bicycle grew, he looked farther afield for competition. Davies won the 1926 Washington State bicycle championship. He won the half mile and one mile events at the 1927 Canadian cycling championships held in Brantford, Ontario. His participation at the 1927 national championship marked the first time ever a western club sent a cyclist to the east to compete.

Davies qualified for the Olympics by winning the 1000m and five mile race at the 1928 Canadian cycling championships held in Toronto. He competed at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. He lost a close race in the heats, but broke a Canadian record while doing so.

Davies turned pro during the 1930s and raced in six-day marathon bicycle races. Later, he reclaimed his amateur status, and competed in his final national championships in 1949.

Davies turned to coaching and officiating race meets in 1948. In 1954, he served as vice-chairman of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games cycling committee and also officiated at the 1954 Games.

Between 1955-58, Davies served as secretary treasurer for the North American Cycle Association. He co-operated, ran novice clinics, and staged international meets, bringing in riders from England and USA at Vancouver’s China Creek cycle rack.