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Raleigh Sports

A · Seen in a catalogueSports / light roadsterIn confirmed sources: 1938–1977

Raleigh used the Sports name for different bicycles. In 1938, Sports Models 31 (gent's) and 32 (lady's) had 21in frames, 26 × 1¼in wheels, 16T fixed and 18T freewheel sprockets, and Raleigh calipers, with dropped bars on the gent's model; the X versions had hub brakes. In the export catalogues, the 26in Sports is billed as the 'Campus Classic' in the 1962 US line-up and is still listed in 1976 and 1977.

Same name, different bikes1938 Sports (Models 31/32, dropped bars) is a different bicycle from the 'Sports' in the 1962–77 export catalogues.

Known components

Listed exactly as our confirmed sources give them, with the year and source for each. A part listed for one year or version may not apply to every bike, so check against yours.

Gears and drivetrain

  • 48T chainwheel with 16T fixed and 18T freewheel1938 · 31 (gent's) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.12
  • 44T chainwheel with 16T fixed and 18T freewheel1938 · 32 (lady's) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.13

Brakes

  • Raleigh calipers1938 · 31 (gent's) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.12; 1938 · 32 (lady's) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.13

Wheels and tyres

  • 26 × 1¼in1938 · 31 (gent's) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.12; 1938 · 32 (lady's) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.13

Saddle, bars and stem

  • dropped bars1938 · 31 (gent's) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.12

As listed together

Parts the source lists in one breath, kept together so nothing is attached to the wrong version.

  • As 31/32 with hub brakes and freewheel1938 · 31X / 32X — Ebykr catalogue archive, pp.12–13

Catalogue appearances

YearName as printed · model no.DetailsSource
1938SPORTS MODEL 31 · 31 (gent's)21in frame; 26 × 1¼in; 48T chainwheel with 16T fixed and 18T freewheel; Raleigh calipers; dropped bars.Ebykr catalogue archive, p.12
1938SPORTS MODEL 32 · 32 (lady's)21in frame; 26 × 1¼in; 44T chainwheel with 16T fixed and 18T freewheel; Raleigh calipers.Ebykr catalogue archive, p.13
1938SPORTS X — MODEL 31X / 32X · 31X / 32XAs 31/32 with hub brakes and freewheel.Ebykr catalogue archive, pp.12–13
196226" SPORTS — Campus ClassicEbykr catalogue archive, Cover
1968SportsNamed in the catalogue's tyre statement only.Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com)
1976SportsPage caption.Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com), p.14
1977sportsPage caption.Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com), p.11

Specs are as printed in the catalogue. Years are when the model appears in a source, not exact production dates.

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Sources

Last updated 19 October 2026. Every fact on this page comes from one of these.

  1. Ebykr catalogue archive: Raleigh 1938 catalogue 'The All-Steel Bicycle and Its Production' (transcription) (p.12, p.13, pp.12–13)
  2. Ebykr catalogue archive: Raleigh 1962 catalogue 'Raleigh Goes Places' (US) – cover line-up (Cover)
  3. Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com): Raleigh 1968 catalogue (PDF, OCR text)
  4. Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com): Raleigh USA catalogue 1976 – page index (p.14)
  5. Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com): Raleigh USA catalogue 1977 – page index (p.11)
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