GARDIN 400 INTRODUCTION

Gardin bicycles were built under the direction of businessman, Joseph Gardin.  Originally, Joe started manufacturing bicycles under the title Cambio Rino but later changed the name to Gardin.  The bicycle survived production from the early eighties to sometime in the nineties, finally to be made no more.

Gardin bikes were offered in a wide variety of quality levels, from this more or less entry to mid level model 400, to top of the line, fast accelerating and quick handling Gardin Special.  And, once in a while, Joe would order that a special Special needed to be built. Though there were many stories surrounding the Gardin bicycle and quality control concerns, the bikes are, none the less, a key part of the Canadian bicycle history.

On at least two occasions, Gardin bicycles were ridden to Olympic Medal Glory, forever etching the Gardin name in the halls of amateur sport fame.  One of Thunder Bay's local athletes, piloted a Gardin bicycle to win Olympic bronze and gold medals on more than one occasion.

Though perhaps of little importance to most of the six billion people on the planet, my favourite bicycle is a Gardin.  And mine, lucky for me, is one of those special Specials mentioned earlier.

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