Diagnosis: A broken bicycle and minimal funds.

Symptoms: Lack of mobility, inability to get anywhere and the feeling that your life just isn’t moving forward.

Treatment: Pay a visit to Cycle Pit Stop, the ride-in/ride-out cycle center in London Fields run by bike enthusiasts TR McGowran and Jusus Telesford. As part of their quick-fix, one-hour service (available seven days a week for £20), the duo adjusts gears, tightens brakes, fixes worn-out chains, repairs punctured tires or gives your bike a general health check from their stall in the local market. Spare parts are sourced from salvaged bikes to keep costs down, and children’s rides are fixed for free.

Prognosis: A miraculous turnaround.

Cycle Pit Stop, Netil Market, 11-25 Westgate Street, E8 3RL (07976 978044 or facebook.com/cyclepitstop).

Photo: Alys Tomlinson / Getty Images