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The best action camera drone for cycling not only makes it easier to capture your rides, but also ensures rock-steady footage. On top of that, it needs to perform well in various scenarios—from rugged mountain trails to jump-heavy tricks, and even high-speed rides where reliable tracking is key.
Below, we’ll explore traditional filming methods and why the HOVERAir X1 PRO or PROMAX is the smarter choice for cyclists. With custom cycling modes, a handlebar mounted Beacon, and packed with other features like smart ascend and stats dashboards, the X1 PRO and PROMAX are designed with your cycling needs in mind.
Traditional Ways to Film Cycling
Helmet or Chest Mounts
Mounting an action camera on your helmet or chest provides a limited, fixed-angle view. The footage is often affected by body movement and lacks a full perspective of the scene. Additionally, 360 cameras tend to suffer from heavy distortion, and the footage often requires time-consuming post-processing.
Handlebar Mounts and/or selfie sticks
Cameras mounted on the handlebar typically capture either the road ahead or the rider—but not both. The framing is often constrained and static. To capture a third-person perspective, riders often rely on long invisible selfie sticks. However, at high speeds, these setups tend to shake excessively, and on narrow or obstructed roads, they can easily hit obstacles and tip over.
Filming with a Friend
Having a friend follow and film you—either on a bike or in a vehicle—can be complicated. It requires coordination, and stabilization is difficult to maintain.
Static Camera Setup
Setting up a camera at a fixed location to film yourself riding past might work for a specific shot, but it usually takes multiple attempts and can’t capture the full flow of your ride.
Traditional Drones with Manual Control
While manually controlled drones offer impressive aerial views, they require a separate operator. It’s nearly impossible to ride and control the drone at the same time.
Why the HOVERAir X1 PRO & PROMAX Is the Best Action Camera Drone for Cycling
Official flying camera of USA CYCLING
HOVERAir X1 PRO & PROMAX is the official flying camera of US Cycling and is trusted by many professional athletes.
Hands-Free Shooting
Truly hands-free—no need to hold a camera or mount anything on your helmet or chest. You can focus entirely on riding while the drone handles the filming.
Cycling Customizations
The X1 PRO & PROMAX come with cycling-specific follow modes, optimized for both open roads and narrow trails. HOVERAir is optimized for narrow mountain biking paths — it can closely follow the rider, keeping up with steep descents and sharp turns. And made with HEM material, it’s tough and crash-resistant, making it ideal for rugged terrain.
Open area setting, which is perfect for wide, open environments like roads. The flying camera optimizes its route for efficiency, ensuring the best use of power.
Smart Ascent also is available here. When cycling through crowded streets or riding in a group, unexpected collisions can happen. Smart Ascend helps you stay worry-free, as the camera automatically rises to avoid obstacles while keeping you perfectly in frame. Whether you're riding solo or with a group, it's perfect for your rides. Want to learn more about this，please go to: Smart Ascent.
Stats Dashboard is also ready for you. With this feature, you can overlay key cycling data on your exported videos — including date, route map, real-time speed, distance, altitude, and more. Want to learn more about this，please go to：Stats dashboard.
Note: Cycling Follow Mode currently supports rear tracking only.
– For front-facing shots, use Dolly Track Mode.
– For side views, switch to Side Follow Mode
Always use Dolly Track or Side Follow in open areas without obstacles to ensure safety.
Tracking Performance
The drone can track at speeds up to 42 km/h (26 mph) and features solid obstacle avoidance. It also performs well in low-light conditions, making it suitable for night rides
Size & Weight
Weighing under 200g and foldable, the X1 PRO & PROMAX are ultra-portable. You can easily slip them into the rear pockets of your cycling jersey or store them in a saddle bag mounted on your bike.
No Remote Required
You don't need a remote to operate it. For real-time preview and easier control, simply mount the Beacon on your handlebar or wear it on your wrist. The Beacon also displays real-time data such as your current speed.
When using the Smart Cycling mode (with CoPilot mode on), you can even make fine adjustments to the drone’s position directly through the Beacon—move it left, right, up, down, forward, or backward. You can also adjust the gimbal angle and more. Learn more about Copilot mode: Copilot mode.
Stabilization
Equipped with dual-axis mechanical stabilization + EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), the X1 PRO & PROMAX deliver smooth footage even on bumpy or uneven roads.
Safety by Design
With a fully enclosed frame, it’s safer for close-range shots—ideal when flying near people or in tight spaces.
Example videos
HOVERAir X1 PRO or PROMAX for road cycling, example：
HOVERAir X1 PRO or PROMAX for mountain biking (MTB), example:
HOVERAir X1 PRO or PROMAX for BMX bike example:
HOVERAir X1 PRO or PROMAX for Gravel riding, example:
HOVERAir X1 PRO or PROMAX for track cycling, example:
Testimonials
"Got my Promax out over the holiday weekend and was very impressed. I have never owned a drone but make a lot of videos and was glad it was so easy to use and with great video quality. It easily kept up with me as i hit a line of large jumps on my mountain bike 20mph" - Matthew Kelly
"Since getting the HoverAir X1 Pro, I have filmed at a few bike parks and I’m starting to learn where this thing shines. The build quality is fantastic and it needs it since it will crash… like a lot if you take it mountain biking. But the results are incredible and to finally have a tracking drone that can keep up is amazing. I did a brief unboxing video and first impressions. https://youtu.be/1WZCEfm_Ado?si=akk1mmA_dWFdKvn4" - Chris Campbell
”I bought the Hoverair promax cycling combo and I would just like to say, love love love this drone. Very simple to use and even the manual mode on the phone was easy enough to operate! Just ordered the joysticks and extra beacon for longer range and better control. The cycling bag it comes with is perfect just for carrying everything and good quality. Bought it to follow me on my dirtbike, haven’t done yet but the follow mode works really well. Very excited for future use! The video I provided was taken with my phone.“ - Conner S.
Accessories for Cyclists
Cycling bag
This is a versatile bag that can be split into two halves and mounted on both sides of a bicycle. It can also be used as a regular storage bag when detached.
Beacon related acessories
You can mount your Beacon on your wrist using the Beacon Wrist Strap, or attach it directly to the handlebar using the Magnetic Adapter Mount and Handlebar Mount. This setup allows for quick control and easy access while cycling—no need to stop or reach for your handlebar.
ND Filters
ND (Neutral Density) filters help you achieve smoother motion blur by reducing the amount of light entering the lens—especially useful in bright outdoor conditions or for creating cinematic cycling footage. Want to learn more about how ND filters work? Check this out: https://hoverair.com/blogs/guide/know-more-about-nd-filters
Conclusion
Cycling comes in many forms—from high-speed road rides to rugged mountain trails, daily commutes to long-distance touring. Each style offers a unique way to experience the world on two wheels—and each one is worth capturing.
With compact, hands-free drones like the HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX, filming your cycling journey—no matter the terrain—has never been easier. Wherever your two wheels take you, make sure your camera can keep up.
