For years, weekend bike rides have been cherished escapes—moments for shedding the week’s accumulated stress one pedal stroke at a time. Yet bringing too many gadgets on these rides can detract from that experience, burdening you with constant alerts and rapidly depleting batteries rather than letting you simply enjoy the ride itself.
Recently, one device has simplified my rides significantly: the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Instead of switching awkwardly among sunglasses, earbuds, and my smartphone, I now rely on a single, streamlined piece of technology.
These smart glasses have quickly gained popularity. Meta has reported sales of millions of units, with company CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently mentioning a threefold growth in sales over the past year. Evidently, I’m not the only one discovering their convenience for active uses like cycling. Online forums and social platforms are buzzing with bikers sharing their Ray-Ban Meta experiences, prompting the company to take note and partner with Oakley to design a dedicated next-generation pair specifically tailored for athletes.
Initially, I hadn’t even thought to use my Ray-Ban Metas while biking. Yet after giving them a try several months ago, they’ve become an integral component of every weekend ride. Although the technology isn’t perfect yet, it’s closer than anything I’ve previously used, and with some refinements, could evolve into an indispensable product for active users.
One major advantage is their stylish, unobtrusive design—they look like classic Wayfarer sunglasses and comfortably protect my eyes from sunlight, dust, and pollen. The glasses fit well beneath a bike helmet, though the fit still leaves room for improvement.
The built-in cameras placed discreetly above each lens are a standout feature, allowing me to quickly capture photos and videos with a simple press instead of fumbling dangerously with my phone while riding. Last weekend, riding through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, I effortlessly snapped photos of scenic spots like Blue Heron Lake and the lush, tree-lined pathways without breaking stride. Admittedly, while the image quality isn’t professional-grade, it captures many moments I would otherwise miss altogether.
The embedded open-ear speakers within the arms of the glasses have quickly become my most used feature, letting me comfortably listen to podcasts or music without sacrificing awareness of my surroundings. While Meta isn’t the first to offer open-ear audio, the sound quality here is surprisingly good and compares favorably to other alternatives on the market.
Intriguingly, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses also include an AI assistant capable of answering simple queries about the surrounding environment. On rides, I find myself occasionally asking the assistant about types of trees or historic buildings that pique my interest. While originally skeptical about this feature, I’ve found brief interactions stimulating and minimally intrusive—a rare balance that enhances the cycling experience without distraction.
However, the Ray-Ban Metas do have some clear shortcomings when used specifically for cycling. For starters, they’re obviously not designed as cyclist eyewear, as they’re missing key comfort and stability features like nose pads and thinner frames, leading to frequent adjustments on rougher routes. Additionally, integration with third-party apps remains limited. Controlling music playlists via Meta’s built-in AI is frustratingly unreliable, often either failing entirely or playing the wrong selections. Similarly, compatibility issues with Apple devices limit crucial features riders might want, such as seamless navigation instructions or hands-free communication.
Meta’s AI technology itself is another area that could benefit from significant improvements. Attempts at engaging the AI in live video sessions—where the glasses stream footage to an AI model in the cloud for object recognition—have yielded inaccurate and often confusing results. Simple identification attempts, such as distinguishing vehicles or plant species, have occasionally produced comically wrong interpretations, undermining confidence in the reliability of this promising technology.
Overall, while still far from perfect, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses represent a genuinely promising step toward simplifying technology usage during active pursuits. The potential is clear—this is already one of the most compelling wearable AI devices available, and with a few critical enhancements, Ray-Ban Meta could fully realize its promise of delivering real joy to the cycling experience.
