The husband of a cyclist killed by a lorry in High Barnet says he still has “a number of unpleasant hurdles” to overcome before he can find closure over the death of his beloved wife.

Six months after Hilary Lee, 66, was fatally struck by an industrial dumper truck in High Road, her husband Geoff has to grapple with the constant reminder of the brutality of his wife’s death.

A police investigation into the incident is still ongoing and officers yesterday extended bail for the 45-year-old driver, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, for the third time.

Mr Lee, 67, has signed up to the London to Paris bike ride to raise money in memory of the retired social worker, but says he is finding it difficult to move on - with the police investigation delaying an inquest into her death.

Mr Lee, of Athenaeum Road, Whetstone, said: “I’m trying to be patient because I want them to do the right thing. It is something I know I have to get through and I’ll be pleased when it is all over.

“I feel nothing towards the driver – I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose and he’s probably going through his own suffering as well.

“Nothing can bring Hilary back but the right thing would be if it adds weight to measures being taken to make the roads safer for cyclists.”

Officers are understood to have finished collecting evidence and the file is close to being passed to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration.

But while the case against the driver is being assessed, Mr Lee is focusing on the 300-mile trip from London to Paris and his fundraising for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

The keen rider had hoped to raise more than £2,000 before the event on July 17.

But he has already smashed that target, collecting £2,300 for the charity, which is raising cash to build a new hospice at an education centre in Byng Road, where Mrs Lee previously worked.

Mr Lee, who has cycled for 50 years, said he was not concerned about getting back on his bike following the death of his wife of 42 years.

He said: “It is therapeutic in its own way. I get out and do a bit of training, which makes me feel like I’m doing something that will pay a bit of respect to Hilary.

“I’ve had my own close calls in the past but when it is something you love doing, what can you do?”

Since his wife’s passing, Mr Lee has become involved in the London Cycling Campaign, which fights for safety measures for cyclists.

He has also received support from Road Peace, a charity that supports relatives of those injured or killed in road crashes.

Mr Lee said: “I give my support to any campaign that makes things safer for cyclists, cycle paths would be great but we should still be entitled to ride on the road.

“We need to stop the carnage being inflicted by these construction lorries with low visibility – if Hilary’s death can do something to make sure fewer others go through what I have, it will be something.”

You can sponsor Mr Lee on his London to Paris cycle ride by visiting his donation page.

www.justgiving.com/Geoff-Lee