The components

We said at the outset that the Militis Comp offered excellent value for money and much of that statement can be verified in the selection of wheels and components, which we considered well matched to the chassis.

SRAM’s Rival mechs and shifters performed well and with the brand’s signature positive click. The single-lever, DoubleTap mechanism divides opinion, winning detractors and admirers in equal measure if our riding group is a guide, but judging the system deployed on the Militis Comp purely on its mechanical efficiency, it was hard to fault.

Shifting to smaller sprockets on the rear cassette was its strongest suit, while shifts to larger sprockets and lower gears made under full load were achieved without complaint, if not with the smoothness of more expensive components.

We admired the aesthetics of the S-Series chainset before riding and its performance matched its visual appeal, with the deep crank arms and CNC-machined chainrings combining to form an efficient turbine that converted our input to forward motion.

Riding the Militis Comp provided our first experience of Cole’s Rollen Elite wheelset. The 27mm deep, aero-profiled rim section, while taller than a conventional box section clincher (our ‘go to’ Mavic Ksyrium Elite S is 23mm deep at the front and 25mm at the rear, for example), is still low within the sphere of contemporary wheelsets and provided no difficulties in crosswinds. Whether any aero benefit was derived is harder to judge. Their greatest contribution to the performance of the Milits Comp is likely to have come from their respectable sub-1600g load. Our brief acquaintance doesn’t qualify us to comment on longevity, but we have no failures to report.

FSA’s Omega handlebar, supplied with our 53cm test bike in a 40cm flavour, with 80mm reach and compact 125mm drop, suited us just fine, but this may not be the case for everybody. The 100mm stem is shorter than we’d have liked, but setting aside the vagaries of personal preference, can be considered a good match for 53cm bike and caused us no real problems.

The brilliant white Selle Royal Seta saddle was one of the Militis Comp’s more eye catching features, but didn’t suit us. Saddle shape is entirely a matter of personal preference, but it is possible to comment on the grip or otherwise of the cover and we found it undesirably slippery. Elsewhere among the seating arrangements, the chunky 31.6mm FSA SL-280 aluminium seatpost seemed a baffling choice, too. While the amount of compliance gained from narrower diameters is a matter for debate, installing an aluminium seatpost in an aluminium frame was never likely to do much for comfort. A carbon post we felt would have been a better choice, and would be the subject of our first upgrade were we to extend our acquaintance.

The stars of the component show, and by some distance, were the Schwalbe Durano S tyres: our new favourites. Raleigh are to be applauded loudly for rolling out the Militis Comp on such high quality rubber. Firmer than its Ultremo ZX sister, but no less grippy on the dry roads of our test period, they were a joy to ride. We inflated them to 100psi and rolled along unhindered. We have no punctures to report either, even after excursions on rural roads, but wet conditions admittedly would have provided a sterner test.