Re:
Well,
I haven’t ridden it yet, will let you know.
I did bring this up with Peter at guywires though, he has a shop in Vancouver that does everything from supplying rate Vitus parts to rebounding Vitus tubes.
He suggested that it could be an alignment issue as they can be sensitive, but these bikes overall are solid, the fork especially. Will let you know when I get mine out in the spring.
Yes, braze on seatpost. Apparently the ears have a bad habit of cracking and breaking, so yours, the 97, has the collar.
Breaking could be from not having the seatpost go deep enough, should go below bottom of top tube.
You saw the 96 catalogue I posted?
Shows the Argal as ‘new’.
Also - Argal, a conclusion drawn from the ridiculous, I have really started liking as a name. Will keep you posted on my build.
I setup a Facebook page, Vitus Argal, please join and post!