How to take an aero-position photo for cycling
A useful aero-position comparison depends more on repeatable capture than on forcing the lowest-looking posture. This guide covers the front and side setup Iris uses and the questions a still photo cannot answer.
Prepare a stable setup
Use a securely supported bike or indoor trainer, a phone or camera, and a level tripod. Avoid backlight. Make the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and full bicycle distinguishable from the background. Never take the photo while riding or on an unstable bicycle.
Set up a front photo
Align the camera height and direction with the front-wheel centre and point the lens along the bicycle centreline. Keep the handlebar, both shoulders, knees, ankles, and full wheels in frame. Perspective can turn an off-centre photo into a false left-right difference, so retake a visibly angled image.
Set up a side photo
Place the camera perpendicular to the drive side and include the full rider and bicycle. Repeat the same crank position, gear, hand position, clothing, camera height, and distance. Reproduce your normal riding posture safely rather than holding an artificial pose for the camera.
Meet the image requirements
Iris accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC images up to 20MB. The long side must be at least 1920px, the short side at least 1080px, and the aspect ratio no wider than 3:1. The browser regenerates a JPEG and removes the source filename and embedded location metadata. The server rejects a JPEG that still contains personal metadata and stores the accepted image in private account storage.
Make comparisons repeatable
Mark the tripod position and record saddle, handlebar, and spacer settings. Change one variable at a time and capture more than one repeat. Do not compare only the score when capture conditions differ; review the displayed quality, confidence, and retake conditions as well.
Know what a photo cannot measure
The Iris score organizes still-image alignment with product-configured bands and capture quality. It is not measured CdA, watts saved, rider level, an injury diagnosis, or your personal optimal bike fit. Static and moving positions differ. Confirm a change through breathing, vision, control, and power on the road, and use a qualified fitter, dynamic measurement, field testing, or a wind tunnel when appropriate.