Any question answered...

Yes

Essential in much the same way as whale-oil lantern maintenance is a vital skill for 2017?

I reckon we'll see the end of inner tubes for most bikes within the next five years as most things move to tubeless.

quoted for posterity

I own the copyright, that'll be $0.05

I'll drop it off, what's your address?

Thanks, that makes more sense.

Seller must have got it wrong then.

I reckon we'll see the end of inner tubes for most bikes within the next five years as most things move to tubeless.

Much like how the clearly inferior technology of square taper BB and freewheels has been consigned to history?

Somehow I've wound up with a carbon bung seized in a steerer. It looks alot like this:

The bolt is loose and has been knocked down, so I don't see what's preventing it coming out. How to proceed?

A while ago I saw a pair of Look Keo cleats that came in two 'jigsaw' pieces so that you could easily replace them without worrying about accidentally moving the cleat's position. Who makes them and are they any good in practice?

Can always list the non-bicycle items on here. There is always gumtree for household items or local buy/sell Facebook groups.

Who makes them and are they any good in practice?

Look make them, I've never bothered to exploit the feature because it's always pretty easy to see where the old cleats were when you come to replace them.I think it's on all current production, although the pictures I can find show only Keo-Grip and Keo-BiMaterial so maybe it isn't on the monolithic ones if they still make those.

Essential in much the same way as whale-oil lantern maintenance is a vital skill for 2017

Says the guy who commutes on tubulars?

Much like how the clearly inferior technology of square taper BB and freewheels has been consigned to history?

Square taper BB hasn't been seen on a decent bike for 10 years* so yes, by freewheel you refer to a BMX/single speed type affair?

*Some track bikes notwithstanding

My commuter is 40 years old.

Most bikes are BSOs and won't suddenly change to tubeless set ups. Look at how many quill stems are still used at Halfords and other places. Ahead stem clearly better than threaded but not universally adopted. I think most staff would struggle to explain why 2x10 gears are better than 3x8 to the general public.

Tubeless also requires better pumps and fluid which is going to be a challenge given how many people think a £5 hand pump is all they need.

I should have said, I'm not talking about BSO's, I'm talking about bikes.

Mini c00ps' Peter Pan-themed party & Mrs c00ps has volunteered me to go as Captain Hook. I normally hate fancy dress. But being the baddie is probably going to be less bad, right?

Anyway, back to the point... Are there any decent fancy dress shops about, within easy reach of Kings Cross? (Preferably open evenings)

Angels on Saftesbury avenue. Short walk from Leicester Square (Picadilly Line)

Great stuff. Thanks @Aroogah!

(Now where was that crocodile...)

I think most staff would struggle to > explain why 2x10 gears are better > than 3x8 to the general public.

Tbh so would I; given equipment of similar quality (admittedly high-quality triples are becoming a rarity), it's really a matter of personal preference and/or preferred application.

Perhaps its the beard-and-Carradice circles in which I pedal, but I reckon square taper is still on half of the bikes I see, and the overwhelming majority still use tubes. I accept these numbers would be different if I raced, but I still wouldn't call either technology dead just yet.

As has been pointed out in this thread my commuter has tubs and a square taper BB- because it's 40 years old. This stuff will continue to exist, but how many people for whom "a bike is whatever I can get from Evans" would/will bother with antediluvian equipment when a Sora chainset had an external BB, for e.g.

All bikes will have ultegra or dura ace within the next 5 years.

Except the vast majority of bikes, but they don't count.

Just like the majority of motorcycles still have inner tubes and a kick start?

Square taper BB hasn't been seen on a decent bike for 10 years.

Define decent bike.

Even press fit BB is getting smaller nowadays with some companies actually removing it from the entry level line-up, and some carbon models.

All bikes will have ultegra or dura ace within the next 5 years.

Ultegra? Pfft. That'll disappear within 3 years at most.