Explore The Equipment Behind Venture Performance
The coaching equipment and specialist bike fitting tools at Venture Performance have been chosen for a practical reason: they help Doug understand what is happening, test different options efficiently and make informed decisions around each individual rider. From an adjustable bike jig to footbed and saddle assessment equipment, every tool has a role, but none replaces experience or good judgement.
Speak directly with Doug on 07734 154181 or email doug@venture-performance.co.uk if you would like to understand which type of support may be appropriate for you.
Specialist Equipment, Used With Experience
The equipment in the Venture Performance studio has been built up through years of working with riders and learning what is genuinely useful in practice.
Rather than using technology simply because it looks impressive, Doug has selected tools that help answer useful questions, make adjustments easier to compare and give riders a clearer understanding of their position on the bike.
Key equipment includes:
- A fully adjustable bike fitting jig for testing different riding positions
- A Wahoo KICKR ROLLR for observing riders while they pedal
- Sidas equipment for foot sizing and creating custom footbeds
- An SQlab sit bone measuring device to support saddle assessment
- Adjustable components that make it possible to compare different crank lengths, saddle positions and handlebar setups efficiently
The common thread is flexibility. Being able to change something, assess the effect and then refine it can be far more useful than making assumptions from a static measurement alone.
The Equipment Used At Venture Performance
Equipment is most useful when there is a clear reason for using it. Each of the tools below helps Doug investigate a different aspect of rider position, comfort or interaction with the bike.
Fully Adjustable Bike Fitting Jig
The fully adjustable bike jig is one of the tools Doug uses most regularly during bike fitting appointments.
Unlike repeatedly changing components on a rider’s own bike, the jig allows different setup options to be tested quickly. Saddle height and position, handlebar position and crank length can all be altered so that Doug and the rider can compare how different configurations feel and function.
This makes it possible to explore several possibilities without committing too early to one solution.
It can be particularly useful when investigating questions such as:
- Would a different crank length give the rider more room through the pedal stroke?
- Could a change in saddle position improve comfort or movement?
- How does altering the front end affect the rider's overall position?
- Which combination feels sustainable rather than simply looking correct on paper?
For Doug, the value of the jig is not that it produces an automatic answer. Its value is that it makes testing ideas much easier.
One area where this has become particularly useful is crank length. As shorter cranks have become more widely available, Doug has found that being able to test different lengths can provide useful options for shorter riders and people with hip mobility limitations.
Wahoo KICKR ROLLR Trainer
During bike fitting, Doug uses a Wahoo KICKR ROLLR as his chosen static trainer setup.
Unlike a completely fixed trainer, its roller design allows some natural movement while the rider pedals. That matters because it helps Doug observe more than simply where the rider sits on the bike.
It can help him consider:
- How the rider shifts weight while pedalling
- Whether movement changes as adjustments are made
- How comfortable and settled the rider appears
- How the rider interacts with the bike rather than simply holding a fixed position
A rider is not static when cycling outside, so preserving some movement during an assessment can provide another useful piece of information.
As with the rest of the studio equipment, the trainer is one part of the assessment rather than a diagnostic tool in isolation.
Sidas Custom Footbed System
The feet form an important connection between the rider and the bike. Doug uses a Sidas foot sizing and footbed system when exploring how a rider is supported inside their cycling shoes.
The equipment can be used to create custom footbeds shaped around the individual foot. The aim is to provide a more appropriate interface beneath the foot, helping with pressure distribution, connection to the pedal and comfort.
Sidas custom insole technology is designed around moulding a footbed to an individual’s foot shape rather than relying solely on a standard, pre-shaped option.
For cyclists, Doug considers the foot as part of the wider system. Foot support may interact with shoe fit, cleat position, comfort and how the rider connects with the pedal.
This means a footbed is not automatically the answer to every foot-related problem. It is another option that can be considered when the rider’s needs suggest it may be useful.
SQlab Sit Bone Measuring Device
Saddle comfort is one of the subjects riders frequently ask about, particularly when they have experienced pressure or discomfort.
Doug uses an SQlab sit bone measuring device as one component of the saddle assessment process.
The equipment provides information about sit bone dimensions and can help explore the relationship between pelvic shape, pelvic position and saddle choice.
However, Doug deliberately avoids treating a sit bone measurement as the whole answer.
Saddle pressure can be influenced by several factors, including:
- Rider position
- Pelvic tilt
- Saddle shape
- Saddle position
- Overall bike setup
- Individual movement and comfort
Sit bone shape is therefore one part of the story, not the complete story.
This is an important example of how equipment is used at Venture Performance. Measurements provide useful information, but they still need to be interpreted within the context of the individual rider.
Equipment Supports Experience, It Does Not Replace It
Modern bike fitting can involve measurements, adjustable equipment and specialist technology, but more data does not automatically mean a better answer.
Doug uses equipment to support decision-making, not dictate it. His background in elite cycling, coaching, bike fitting and sports massage gives him the experience to interpret what the equipment shows and apply it to the individual rider.
That matters because two riders with similar measurements can have very different mobility, injury histories, goals and responses to a position.
The tools in the studio have been chosen through years of practical use because they help Doug test options efficiently and find sensible solutions for real clients.
Testing What Works For The Individual Rider
One of the biggest advantages of the studio setup is the ability to compare different options rather than rely on a single formula or measurement.
Doug can adjust crank length, saddle position, reach and other elements, then assess how the rider responds. The aim is not to chase a theoretically perfect position, but to find one that works for the person actually riding the bike.
That wider view is important because discomfort can involve more than bike setup alone. Position, movement, previous injury, mobility and training habits can all play a part.
This is why the equipment is used as part of a broader assessment rather than in isolation.
For examples of how this approach has been applied in practice, explore the Venture Performance case studies or read client reviews.
What Riders Often Ask About The Equipment
Does Technology Decide My Position?
No. Equipment helps Doug observe, measure and test different options, but it does not automatically determine the right position.
Your riding history, goals, comfort, movement and response to changes all provide important context.
Why Test Different Crank Lengths?
Changing crank length alters the space available to the rider through the pedal stroke.
Doug has found the ability to compare crank lengths particularly useful for shorter riders and riders with hip mobility limitations. The adjustable jig means different options can be explored before deciding whether a change is worthwhile.
Is Sit Bone Width Enough?
No. Sit bone measurement can provide useful information during saddle selection, but Doug considers it alongside factors such as pelvic tilt, riding position, saddle shape and the rider’s individual experience.
A measurement should provide context, not become the entire fitting process.
Are Custom Footbeds Always Necessary?
No. Custom footbeds are one option available when foot support, pressure distribution or connection within the shoe is relevant to the rider.
Doug’s approach is to use them where they make sense rather than assume every cyclist requires the same intervention.
Why Use An Adjustable Jig?
The main benefit is efficiency when comparing positions.
Doug can alter elements such as crank length, saddle position and handlebar position relatively quickly, allowing both rider and fitter to assess different options without repeatedly rebuilding the rider’s own bike.
Equipment Chosen For A Reason
The Venture Performance studio in Berkhamsted brings together equipment Doug has selected through years of practical experience. Each tool helps him observe something, compare an option or investigate a question more efficiently.
The important part is what happens next.
Measurements and technology provide information. Experience, context and communication are what turn that information into a sensible decision for the individual rider.
Email: doug@venture-performance.co.uk
Phone: 07734154181