We are wrapping up for Christmas this week in the office but that doesn't mean that all content stops here, off-road.cc will still feature new articles each day until we get back to the grindstone in the New Year. The last deliveries have been taken though and the week before Xmas sees us welcome a budget gravel bike, winter kit for our extremities and a cool little device to silence chain noise. 

• Feature - Pioneering with Robot Bike Co.
• Feature - Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy 30

Calibre Dark Peak

The Dark Peak is a budget gravel bike from Calibre, a brand you might recognise for their Bossnut, a trail bike that the general mountain bike media have raved about since it's arrival. The Dark Peak will introduce you to gravel riding for the small sum of £555, head over to our first look for the finer details. 

• £550 (plus a fiver for the Go Outdoors discount card) RRP £800
• www.calibre-bikes.com
• You can buy a Dark Peak here from Go Outdoors
   

Chain Tamer

The inventors of this little device call it "A revolution in drivetrain silence". Fitting to the upper side of your chainstay via two zip ties, the chain is fed through the small rubber tube and reconnected - voila, the chain is held aloft, stopping it from slapping against the rear triangle. It's a funky innovation, that if it works, will stop anyone from having to wrap old inner tube around parts if their bike ever again!

• £21
• www.chaintameruk.co.uk
• Buy here from Chaintamer
   

Specialized Defroster shoes

We are hitting back at winter with the Specialized Defroster shoes! They're a Thinsulate® lined, waterproof, sealed SPD boot. They've also got a sealed canopy and neoprene collar to keep heat in and water out. Paired with a pair of waterproof trouser we reckon they will be just the ticket to keep water out permanently. 

•  £185
• www.specialized.com
• You can buy the Defroster shoes here from Specialized  or here from Evans
   

Smith Optics Pivlock Arena Glasses

The Smith Pivlock Arena glasses look to be a great combination of casual cool and good coverage, a multi-purpose pair to keep the muck from our peepers this winter. They come with a dark lens and a 'brightening' one (pictured) but sadly no clear lens for our dark woodland, although there is a space for it in the box! They will suit most as they come in two sizes - a small to medium fit or as the 'Arena Max' for larger faces. 

• £161
• www.smithoptics.com
• You can buy Smith Arena glasses here from Tredz
   

Giro WM Inferna Water Resistant Windbloc Gloves

If the title doesn't explain enough, these Inferna gloves from Giro are a women's water resistant and windproof glove. They are pretty new and feature a Polartech fleece lining which is pleasingly pretty thin, meaning the gloves aren't bulky for what looks to be a proper cold weather glove.

• £40
• www.giro.com
• www.zyrofiher.co.uk
• Buy the Giro Inferna gloves here from Tredz

You might also like: 

• Last week's arrivals - including a cool new gravel bike from Vitus
• Arrivals from the week before last - kit from Lauf and Sixth Element
• Review - Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy 30