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
Ross (bicycle company) held several bicycle-related patents, served as President of the Bicycle Institute of America (BIA) and the Bicycle Manufacturers Association (BMA), and acted as an expert witness in product liability cases. Ross began making bicycles in 1946, and by the late 1960s, Ross manufactured about 1 million bicycles per year. By 1985, it had sold 10 million bicycles. The company, still known as "Chain Bicycle Corporation", marketed bikes under the "Ross" brand, including children's bikes as well as BMX, touring, cruiser, mountain, racing, wheelie, and stationary exercise bicycles. In 1968, Ross joined the muscle bike craze with models such as the