Cycling in Dubai isn’t a sport anymore — it is a movement. DXBike is busier than Sheikh Zayed Road at rush hour, the coffee rides look like fashion editorials, and lycra has quietly replaced linen as the city’s unofficial uniform. In a place where summer starts at 5 am and ends in an oat flat white, two wheels have become both therapy and status symbol. And few people understand this intersection of sweat, style, and community better than Collin Allin, Oakley META Sport Channel Manager and the man turning Dubai’s obsession with cycling into a connected global story.

A South African by origin and a Dubai resident for over 13 years, Collin Allin has watched the city’s cycling scene evolve from empty desert loops into one of the world’s most dynamic communities. A lifelong athlete and Oakley veteran, he now leads the brand’s Sport and eyewear innovations across the Middle East and North Africa, including the launch of the Oakley Community Club — a global-first initiative uniting runners and cyclists through tech, geolocation, and shared sessions. He is also behind the regional debut of Oakley META, the AI-powered eyewear developed in collaboration with Meta, merging protection, performance, and digital creativity. When he isn’t in meetings or on flights, you will find him — predictably — on the track at sunrise.

— Cycling has exploded in Dubai — DXBike is packed every morning, no parking, people taking photos more than training. It isn’t just sport anymore; it is culture. How do you see this blend of performance and self-expression shaping the new generation of cyclists here and worldwide?

— It is amazing, right? I have been here for 13 years, and it has gone from a few riders on Al Qudra to literal traffic jams of bikes. What I love most is that it is no longer only serious riders — there are families, kids, couples. You see people riding not to race but to belong.

For us as a brand, that community side became key. We launched the first Oakley Community Club globally — the idea actually came to me in Paris during the Olympics. I went for a run, got back, and the concierge told me I had gone in a “dangerous direction.” I thought, “How annoying that I can’t just explore?” And that is when it clicked — what if we could connect people who move the same way wherever they are?

So now, through our app with Your Fitness Coach, you can open the map, see nearby rides or runs, click “drive me there,” and go. It is free to join. And honestly, Dubai needs this more than anywhere. People here are ambitious, busy, and often alone. If you don’t brunch every Friday, it is hard to meet anyone. Cycling and running have replaced brunch. You train, sweat, talk, and somehow — you belong.

— For sure, safety is crucial, but let’s be honest — cycling fashion is out of control. My most expensive wardrobe item is probably a jersey. How do you combine safety, endurance, and the fact that everyone wants to look hot in photos?

— (Laughs.) It is true — cycling kits cost more than suits now. But that is the beauty of it: you get to perform and look good.

As Oakley, we design for both. We are rooted in performance — everything starts with athletes and world champions — but in the Middle East, we have adapted that to lifestyle. Because here, people ride for community and culture, not only competition.

And look, even H&M and Zara jumped into cycling apparel this year. That says everything. There is a gap between pure performance and affordable fashion, and we are happy to sit in the middle. We use a simple model — good, better, best. Entry-level, premium, and pinnacle. That way, everyone can access the brand.

Also, yes, Oakleys end up everywhere — on bikes, at brunch, even at clubs. We are okay with that. Protection is protection — whether it is on the road or on the dance floor.

— Okay, but realistically — how many pairs of glasses does one cyclist actually need?

— Technically one. But emotionally? Three minimum. (Laughs.)

I personally have 247, which is a little over the top. The truth is, one solid pair can cover everything — cycling, running, beach, travel. People think Oakleys are only for pros, but that is wrong. You have got one pair of eyes — protect them.

Our lenses are tested against impact, UV, everything. The fogging, the glare, the debris — it is all part of our design. People often say, “I’m not a serious cyclist, I don’t need Oakleys.” And I tell them: you don’t need to be serious; you just need to see.

— But what is the difference between running and cycling frames? I always thought they are basically the same.

— Not even close. Running frames are super light, sometimes rimless — our EV Zero Blades weigh 28 grams. Perfect for movement, pockets, and bouncing around. Cycling glasses are heavier, have more structure, more ventilation — because of the speed and fogging.

Then we have tech like Hypergrip, built for trail runners. It literally wraps the glasses around your head — you can backflip, roll, crash — they stay on. It was actually designed for extreme sports like Trail Running, Field Hockey as well as the U.S. flag football team for the 2028 Olympics. That is how deep we go into performance detail.

Of course, someone will still wear them on the bike just because they look cool. But hey, that is part of the fun.

— All right, serious topic: glasses over or under the helmet straps?

— Over. Always. That is the law. Every time I see someone with straps over the glasses, I know they are new. Real cyclists wear glasses on top of the straps — it is cleaner, less flapping, and purely aesthetic. My wife and I fight about it all the time. It is like the toilet paper argument — over or under. There is only one right answer.

— Let’s talk about the new Oakley META glasses. They look futuristic, but what do they actually do? And why do we need them?

— META comes in two models — HSTN and Vanguard. HSTN’s lifestyle: golf, paddle, beach. Vanguard is for real athletes — it has AI from Meta, connects with Garmin and Strava, and records 3K video hands-free.

You literally say, “Hey Meta, start video,” and that is it. You can make a call at 45 km/h and sound like you are in an office. The camera sits in the middle for a 140° view, it has open-ear speakers, and it is completely waterproof.

You get six hours of playback, internal storage for a hundred videos or a thousand photos, and instant uploads to your phone. It is like having a GoPro, a music system, and a headset — all in your sunglasses.

At 2,400 AED for the Vanguard, I honestly think it is great value. It is the iPhone 4 moment for eyewear. The start of something that will evolve fast — because once you try it, you realise how natural it feels. You just ride, talk, record, and live.

— Garmin and Strava, okay. But if someone doesn’t use Garmin — or uses just a bike computer or Apple Watch — does it still make sense?

— Of course. Today it connects best with Garmin and Strava because they are the biggest sport data platforms, but the tech will expand. Think of this as version one.

Like when the first iPhone launched — it was cool, but basic. 15 years later, it is a supercomputer. The META glasses are at that same stage. The base is built; the open-source future will come. Soon we will see more integrations — fitness, AI, even entertainment.

In five years, everyone will have some version of smart eyewear. That is inevitable.

— Okay, but let’s talk about the climate. Dubai humidity kills everything — phones, AirPods, even my soul. How do META glasses survive that?

— (Laughs.) You are right — Dubai humidity destroys tech. Every time we launch something globally, they mention me and say, “Yes, we know about Dubai.”

META’s been tested from –20 to +40 °C, fully waterproof. I have been riding with it for a few weeks in 38–40 degrees, zero issues. And remember, the glasses are on your face — wind-cooled, not baking in your jersey pocket.

If something does fail, we replace it immediately. No drama. At Oakley, we don’t argue with warranty — we just fix it. A happy cyclist tells ten friends; an angry one tells the internet.

— Now a more basic but essential question. Everyone says cycling is crazy expensive. What do you actually need to start riding in Dubai?

— You need less than you think. There are amazing new Chinese carbon bikes — 5,000 to 7,000 AED with carbon wheels and electronic shifting. Add shoes, a helmet, and a decent pair of glasses — and you are set.

If that is still too much, just rent. At DXBike, 150 AED gets you a good bike and a helmet for two hours. That is cheaper than a Friday brunch.

People assume cycling is elitist because of Instagram — all the perfect kits, $10k bikes. But honestly, you can ride anything. In Dubai, no one cares if your frame says Specialized or “Something You Can’t Pronounce from Shenzhen.” What matters is that you ride.

And the best part? Unlike Europe, where cyclists can be a bit snobbish, Dubai’s community is open. Everyone is an expat, everyone started from scratch. You show up, and someone will wave you in. That is the difference.

— Exactly — it is friendlier here.

— Absolutely. I have cycled in Cape Town, New York, Barcelona — and nowhere compares. Here, people actually talk to you. They share bottles, invite you for coffee, add you to the WhatsApp group before you even learn their names.

It is the friendliest peloton in the world. The roads are clean, the sun is brutal, the coffee is good — and somehow, everyone shows up before dawn with a smile.

Cycling here isn’t just fitness. It is therapy, identity, community. It is the new brunch — except you burn calories instead of adding them.