There has been a tendency among the pros to ride
frames that a few yrs ago would have been felt "too
small" for them. They then make up for the smaller
frame by seat post extension and long stems. Pix of
road frames ridden by pros will show the seat to be 4-5 even 6" above the level of the bar. The higher the seat
the more you tend to bend over and transfer weight
forward. Comfort bikes, with flat bars have the seat
top and bar at almost the same height, rarely is the bar
set above seat level. This allows a nearly uprite posture with the back bent only 10-20*, compared with 40+ degrees that pros use. Another compenstion the pros use is to mount the brake hoods high on the curve
of the bar, useful especially in climbing. Your tolerance of the bent over, weight forward position will determine
where you end up; as your mileage goes up and ability to bend improves, you may find yourself adjusting the position over time. Of course your leg length is the determinant of seat top to pedal distance but as the frame gets smaller the seat floats higher and hence the seat top to bar top distance can be varied more. steve