Mike Hall's family invite cyclists to join them at celebration of his life in Harrogate next week

The life of Mike Hall, who was killed last month while riding in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, will be celebrated next Tuesday in Harrogate, the North Yorkshire town where he was born – and his family are encouraging as many people as possible to join them.

Hall, the founder of the Transcontinental Race and winner of the inaugural World Cycle Race and, on two occasions, the Tour Divide, died in a collision with a car near Canberra early in the morning of Friday 31 March.

> Tributes paid to British ultracyclist Mike Hall

While his funeral will be a small one for family and friends only, there is an open invitation for the celebratory part of the day for “anyone who felt a connection to Mike to come and remember him in good company.”

His family says that “There will be an opportunity to say a few words about him and share some stories over a jar or two.”

Because of the distance involved in travelling to North Yorkshire, there are also plans to hold a cycling event in the 35-year-old’s memory in early June in Mid Wales, where he lived.

The memorial service will held on Tuesday 2nd May 2017 at around 12:45pm at the Wharfe Room, Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8NZ.

The dress code is described as “Lycra and cycling caps encouraged, but please dress in any way you see fit to honour Mike.”

His family added: “As befitting a celebration of Mike and his passion for bikes and cycling you are positively encourage to arrive by bike. There will be room to store bikes (at the owner’s risk) at the Pavilion.”

The weekend after his death, Hall's friend and rival Kristof Allegaert - who had been leading the Indian Pacific Wheel Race when Hall was killed - led more than 1,000 cyclists on a ride in his memory in Sydney, where the race had been due to finish.

> 1,000 cyclists ride in Sydney in memory of Mike Hall