Any question answered...

So would you suggest I just give it another go with the M8 x 1.25 from the back side as dron suggested?

Yes. Get the tap started in the good threads, and that should hold it once it starts cutting the damaged area. If you can get the work piece onto your mill/drill table, use a tap follower to keep it aligned.

Riddle me this - I changed the chain to a new one, same model as the old (Ultegra 11 speed) and now my indexing is out, nothing else but the chain has changed. What gives?

Track wheel nuts that don't rust. What and where to buy?

What and where to buy?

The Zipp ones are stainless steel
http://www.totalcycling.com/en/Zipp-Track-Axle-Nuts/m-22751.aspx

The chain has slightly different mass and is affecting the jockey wheel.

You may need to change your cassette.

11 speed chain required replacing sooner than later, and the old chain may have partly worn the cassette.

Lastly, could you have a stiff link?

It's an expensive cassette with less than 3,000km on it. Not changing it. No stiff link.

Still sound like you may need to change it.

Forgive me for the barrage of question; what was the chain wear when you check it with a chain wear tool?

Tweak the indexing and if it's not slipping over the cassette under load, stick some miles on it and it'll all be reet.

As for why it happened, your bike probably hates you or something.

Does anyone have a dt Swiss ring nut removal tool I could borrow for an evening?

Chain is directional and is on the wrong way round?

Possible. I do recall checking that during installation it of course that's no guarantee I got it right.

writing on the outside?

Check your cassette wear as well.

How worn was the chain when you removed it?

White Industries road cranks - they look nice. Are they worth the substantial coin, or are they pure biek histper bilng?

At the time, they were one of the few choices of crankset that come in various option.

They're good chainset and I was happy with mine, however there's more choices to go for such as the Sugino one.

http://hubjub.co.uk/sugino-ox601d-crankset-200-p.asp

This is not true- they are abhorrent.

Milk curdles when shown a picture of White Industries cranks. Small children start crying, adults sometimes vomit.

So they are essentially the undead?

are they pure biek histper bilng?

If you choose WI cranks, you're a fellow traveller with whoever created this abomination for NAHBS2017

Nah I mean the road doubles:

http://www.whiteind.com/road-crank

From the replies gleaned so far, I feel the message is very much histper binlg.

Looks like SRAM Rival is the nice-looking affordable 10spd crankset for me.

Nah I mean the road doubles:

whiteind.com/road-crank

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEStsLJZhzo

Like I said, only reason to go for them is the bling factor (I do love how mine look) and the choice of chainring sizes.

Nowadays, lots of manufacturer are making chainset in more sizes.

Praxis Works for instance released a 48/32t chainset for BB30 and 68mm threaded BB;

Sugino have the OX601D in 46/30 sizes, and more option for a smaller chainring too.

What would the bottle cage (or cages) of choice have been for a pro in 1994 please?

Period correct Elite Ciussi perhaps?