Bell

The Bell Volt helmet is the brand's second-tier helmet. It feels reassuringly tough, not weighty, and looks similar to the top-tier Gage helmet, as worn by BMC team riders, thanks mainly to the pods behind the ears.

The Volt is priced at an RRP of £139.99, it's currently available at just under £100 at most outlets. The 320g claimed weight of the helmet disappears when in use; I've yet to use another helmet where the weight seems so well distributed.

The Bell Strut Helmet is aimed squarely at the female leisure cyclist, or women just starting out in riding, and offers an attractive price tag and some female specific features to entice the first-time buyer. Sub £35 is a great price for an entry level helmet with all the safety credentials you could want.

The Bell Javelin time trial helmet shares some of the DNA of the super-fast Giro Selector. The parent company is the same and the Javelin has that familiar shape: dome-like forehead and short tail. It's 75% of the price of the Selector, shaving off a cool £60.

It's not just a poor man's Selector, however, which means I can't use either of the Bo' Selecta puns that I'd prepared: 'poor Selector' and 'no Selector'. It is, unlike those puns, rather good.

The Hornit dB140 cycle horn was conceived on the mean streets of south London as the loudest cycle horn in the world. As its name implies, it belts out a whopping 140 decibels - 30 more than standard on cars and vans.

It doesn't take any more handlebar space than a typical commuter light, and has a distinctive tone, similar to household smoke alarm. However, the reaction of a multi-drop van driver suggests it can sometimes fuel, rather than displace, danger.

The Arella is essentially the female specific version of Bell's Muni urban helmet, and is aimed squarely at commuters, urban riders and recreational cyclists in both its styling and features.

Bell Muni Urban Sports Helmet is an extremely clever design and frankly, one that has much broader horizons than traffic jamming. Modest weight, subtle styling and colour choice coupled with a neat peak mean it's also a very capable tour and trail lid. There's a choice of mean and moody matt black/titanium stealth colours but our 'safety yellow' is anything but garish.