As we approach the New Year (yep, it's nearly 2023!), we hope it's been a superb Christmas spent with loved ones and that you got everything you wanted in terms of bike gear. To whet your appetite for the coming year, this week, we've got a selection of goodies from Leatt, POC, DMR, and Rapha. 

• Bare bar riding: Ditch the devices and start riding free
• 1x Drivetrains - when less really means less

• How 26" wheels are still turning out the fun

As this is the week in between Christmas and the new year, the news is a little slim but that doesn't mean that there hasn't been a couple of cool things to keep us all busy. There's Kate Courtney's Contessa Scale RC and Dangerholm has taken a break from creating crazy lightweight bikes. Instead, he's taken Scott's Gambler and has attempted to make it as durable as possible.

I've revisited the tech predictions that I made at the beginning of the year to double-check that my crystal ball is still working, and we've had our usual Tech of the Week feature, taking a look back at the cool tech launched last week.

Leatt Jacket MTB Trail 3.0

£160

This new puffer jacket from Leatt is designed to be at home both on the trails and in the pub. The front panel features insulation to keep you warm and protect against the wind while the rear panel uses a 360 stretch fabric that's also breathable, says the brand.

The jacket is constructed from a 5,000/5,000 water-resistant and breathable fabric so it should keep you dry while regulating temperature. It also uses a new-to-Leatt hood that's built with a taller collar, and we're told that it can be worn in four different configurations.

• leatt.com
• >Buy the Leatt MTB Trail 3.0 Jacket from Wiggle for £160

POC VPD System Lite Knee

£120

These pads come with POC's VPD tech which is designed to harden upon impact, offering EN 16211, Level 1 certified protection. The hard caps feature a tonne of holes in order to encourage ventilation and they mould to the contours of the knee with warmth.

It's said that these pads deliver more ventilation than any other product in POC's range.

• www.pocsports.com
• >Buy the POC VPD System Lite Knee from Tredz for £79

Leatt Shoe 6.0 Clip

£160

This clipless shoe from Leatt is designed especially for spring and summer use thanks to a breathable membrane. It's graced with a lengthy cleat channel to help any rider achieve their ideal cleat position and there's an ATOP dial for quick on-the-fly adjustment.

The sole utilises Leatt's RideGrip rubber compound, paired with the WaffleGrip tread pattern and there's an EVA midsole to help absorb impact.

• leatt.com

DMR Grid Grip

£12

The latest grip in DMR's line-up is made using Kraton rubber and combines mushroom and waffle patterns to provide ample grip to the palm and finger. The Grid Grip is a push-on grip and it features a soft flange, so it should play nicely with any controls.

• www.dmrbikes.com

Rapha Men's Trail Merino Long Sleeve Jersey

£95

Last up in the week's Five Cool Things is Rapha's Merino Long Sleeve Jersey. This top combines the natural thermoregulating properties of merino with the durability of nylon. Rapha has even added a moisture-wicking treatment to help the garment fend off sweat. The merino component of this jersey is also odour resistant.

• www.rapha.cc

You might also like:

• The best trail and enduro mountain bike wheelsets, tried and tested
• The best four-piston disc brakes you can buy for all-mountain, enduro and trail MTBs
• The best saddles you can buy for mtb and gravel bikes - tried and tested