Thanks guys,

That pretty well answers my question.

BQ should have noted the Grand Randonneur is not a "Full Prestige" frameset as the fork is Tange Infinity (stays too?).

"The Soma's fork blades are quite stiff, but at least the bumps didn't unsettle the bike."
-BQ Vol.12 #3

They are a tough audience, damning w/ faint praise the "budget" $500 Rando frameset and gushing over the $3K frameset MAP S&P in the same issue. Magazines need something to write about & I find BQ's quirky frame of reference & hands-on testing interesting. I must agree that the Soma is one ugly puppy w/ the "dropped top tube".

Think I'll pump up the tires on the fixed gear & go for a ride, all this multi-gear, mudguards fitted front loaded stuff is too complicated today.

-Bandera