The flagship bike in Raleigh’s Performance Race range is the Militis Team. Built around an 880g frame, it’s the bike Continental-level pro team Raleigh GAC ride in the Tour Series and it’s designed to blast away any preconceptions you might have about a top-end carbon bike made by Raleigh.

They were keen to point out that the goal designing the Militis was to create the ‘best handling bike on the market’, meaning Raleigh are aiming right at the top.

Coming with FSA SL-K finishing kit, a full SRAM Red 22 groupset, a set of Cole’s new C40 Lite carbon clinchers, and all topped off with a Fizik Arione R1 saddle, it’s up there in spec terms with almost anything you can find for £5,000 and weighs in right at the UCI weight limit. And, with that frame weight we mentioned earlier, there’s plenty of potential to make the ride even lighter if you’re willing to change the parts.

Plus, if you fancy it, there’s a frameset only option for the Militis Team now, and that’ll set you back £1,500. It’s available in 50, 53, 55, 57 and 59cm sizes.

It’s been a successful frame for the last few years so that it’s unsurprising Raleigh have kept the Militis Team the same for 2016.

If you’re not looking to drop five grand, though, there are seven other bikes in the Militis family, with three more based around the same frame as the Team versions. There’s the SRAM Force 22-equipped Militis Race (£2,400), and two versions of the Militis Pro, with either Shimano 105 or SRAM Rival 22, and both costing £2,000.

Meanwhile, the £1,350 Militis Comp is based around a a lightweight, 1.2kg aluminium frame, and comes SRAM Rival 22, with the frame available in two colours, and the entry-level Militis Comp wears a SRAM Apex groupset for £1,000 and, again, comes in two colours.

Now on to Endurance Race…