Cyclocross - Ridley size question.

To make a long story short, I have a chance to buy a Ridley supercross for a good deal. The only thing is the size. The seat tube is a 58cm, and this thing is a tall 58 that would need long legs to clear. The strang thing is, the top tube is a 55cm, and the bike is listed on the Ridley site as a 54cm. I'm 6 foot, and the bike is a good fit (maybe a little short in the tt, but it also has a 100mm stem that can be swapped for a 110, or 120), but I could't see anyone shorter being able to ride this thing. A local cross guru said he would rather deal with a shorter top tube because he could adjust with a stem and seat post, than a tall seat tube that you're stuck with.

If you have ANY info on these funny bikes, please put your 2 cents in. Thanks in advance.

BTW, my current cross bike is a 58cm, and this thing seems bigger everywhere BUT the tt. As I said, there is nooo way this thing is a 54 or a 56! I'm guessing Ridley shortened the tt for sharp handling and light weight.

Ridley cross bikes are TALL! At 6', a 58cm Ridley is going to be way to big for you. The height of the bike and a short stem will be problems that add up. Cross bikes size out big because of the higher BB shell and different geometry.
I'm 6'1" and ride a 54cm Ridley and a 54cm Salsa with 120 stems and normal amounts of post showing. If you plan on just 'riding' a cross bike, a 56cm should fit you fine. If you plan on racing, a smaller bike is the way to go.

Thank you sooooo much for the in-put damocles1. The 54cm with the 120mm stem seemed the way to go IMO as well. BTW, I plan on using this as a race bike.

You want your cross race rig to be about the same size, or a bit smaller than your normal road bike.

My Damocles has a 56.5 top and a 120mm stem. Both cross bikes have 55mm top tubes with 120mm stems. The 1.5cm difference is noticeable at first, but after about 15 minutes, I don't feel it anymore.

The 54cm Ridley looked WAY too big for anyone under 6 foot. As I said, this thing is bigger than my 58cm everywhere but the tt. 54.5 with a 120mm stem seems tight, but fast... just what I'm looking for.

Yeah.. Ridley's definitely run on the "enormous" side of things. :)

My road bike is a 56 ctc old school steel frame. The tt is 56 as well.

The ridley I owned was a 52, and I could barley stand over it. The 50 was to small to shoulder so I went with the 52. Ridley's felt like a highwheeler dueto the high BB. I hated it, and I love my current Kona JTS.