Thank god for Los Angeles’ Ritte Cycles. The whole ethos of the Ritte brand is to remind us that riding is fun and to get the most out of it you have to be a wee bit nutty.

Their unsanctimonious blend of humour and quality frames has infiltrated the shores of Australia, with a new Stainless Snob seen roaming the Sydney streets.

This isn’t the first Ritte to land in Australia, by a long shot, but it’s the first imported by Skol, their Aussie distributors, built up by Sydney’s own Skunkworks Bikes.

It was assembled for Bob Barrett, one of Skol’s partners, and it will accompany him in May on a 6 day trip around Japan that will encompass 980km and 18,000 meters of climbing.

While the rest of the Ritte stable are constructed from carbon fibre and aluminium, the Stainless Snob is made from high-strength KVA MS3 stainless steel tubing.

It’s hallmarked by some classy construction: the front triangle is TIG welded with excellently brazed seat and chain stays, a 44mm head tube and integrated seat clamp.

The Snob hits a fine mark between contemporary functionality and traditional craftsmanship and materials, a modern-day heirloom bike that will probably last longer than you will.

Skunkworks Bikes finished the frame to their usual high standards: a Campagnolo 11 Speed Super Record groupset, a 3T seat post and cockpit and a Curve / White Industries T11 wheelset.

Irreverent jocularity will always strike a chord with Australians, but they also like bikes that can be ridden as hard as the land they ride over, so the Ritte brand should fit right in.

Keep an eye on the Skol website, and their Instagram feed, for more news — not to mention their epic Japanese campaign in May.