Bicycle handlebar a steep U-shape from the base, so that the rider's hands rest above waist-level. This style of bicycle handlebar became very popular in the 1960s after the introduction of wheelie bikes such as the Schwinn "Sting-Ray", Raleigh Chopper, and other highly stylized youth bicycles that imitated the appearance of drag-racing or chopper motorcycles of the day. Legislation in the United States introduced during the 1970s limited the maximum height of manufacturer-installed handlebars to 16 inches above the lowest seat setting; European Union safety regulations use a similar limit of 400mm. The apehanger style remained common in the US through the
Bicycle Technologies International League of American Bicyclists, who awarded the company Gold level status in its Bicycle Friendly Business category. Bicycle Technologies International Bicycle Technologies International, Ltd. (BTI) is a global distributor of bicycle components and accessories, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. BTI also participates in the community through cycling advocacy on local and national levels. The company is privately held and does not disclose its sales figures. Andrew Wright and Preston Martin founded Bicycle Technologies International, Ltd. (BTI) in Ashland, OR in 1993. BTI introduced the bicycle industry’s first service center that bike shops could send shocks to for tuning and