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
Electra Bicycle Company Day Tripper were introduced after the Electra Townie, but as of 2009 are no longer in production. The company partnered with fashion design firm Petro Zillia to produce a high-end fashion bike with a strong graphic quality. The bike was featured widely in the fashion press, and Petro Zillia’s chief designer Nony Tochterman gained coverage by riding the Electra up the runway at a fashion show. Electra Bicycle Company Electra Bicycle Company, a subsidiary of Trek Bicycle Company, was founded in Vista, California, in 1993, by Benno Bänziger and Jeano Erforth. Electra offers a wide range of modern cruiser bicycles.