Possible Clues:

• Begin with the end of 17 down and all go on ahead
• Bit of bicycling gear
• One offers protection to head straight across wood
• The Inferno briefly opens on Maundy Thursday outside initial entrance? Taking the journey, this will go over your head!
• Motorcyclist's headgear
• Footballer's wear
• Protective headwear
• Learner he met outside in biker's lid
• Endless inferno encountered in protective headgear
• Protective wear brings endless assistance to London force