Raleigh re-starts assembling in the UK

By assembling in the UK Raleigh is hoping the latest version of its flagship Militis road bike will be the first available at retail to be equipped with SRAM’s wireless eTap technology. This will be the first bike the company has assembled in the UK for thirteen years. There are no plans for assembling bikes beyond the Miltis eTap bike, and Raleigh will be using its existing in-house mechanics.

Raleigh is using the early availability of the Miltis eTap – perhaps five weeks ahead of brands assembling in Asia – as a promotional tool.

Brand manager Duncan Mackenzie said: "For the handful of lucky customers who buy this limited edition bike, they will be one of only a few people to have a bike assembled by Raleigh in the UK since 2003."

The bike will retail for £6000.

"We will only be assembling our Militis eTap bike here in the UK and it will be in very small volumes as it’s a limited edition bike," said Mackenzie.

"All of the manufacturing will still be done in the Far East as we use one of the world’s most advanced carbon frame manufacturers for our 880gram UCI-approved, Militis frame."

SRAM only has limited availability of the new wireless groupset.

Mackenzie said: "We wanted to be one of the first brands to have stock available to buy in the UK. By assembling the bikes here, we will shorten our lead times and will have the bikes ready for our customers as fast as possible. We can personally QC check every single bike in minute detail."

Stock will be available to buy at the end of March and customers can pre-order the bikes from bike shops. 

Raleigh stopped making frames in the UK in 1999, and ceased assembling bikes in 2003.