Cyclocross sizing questions/frustration

[cyclox66]

Hi,
I'm looking into getting a cyclocross bike (my short list is the Bianchi Axis and the Lemond Poprad). I test rode a 52cm 2003 poprad a couple of weekends ago and found that the standover height was a bit much. I'm 5'6" and in my custom road bike I ride a 52cm with a 54 cm toptube with about 30 inches of standover. It seems like I should be looking at the next size down (a 49cm in both brands) but that just seems small coming from a road perspective. It is also a bit annoying that the specs listed on the poprad and axis don't appear to take into account the fact that a cyclocross bike is likely going to have a pretty big tire, thus significantly increasing the standover. I'm curious if other people who have good experience in sizing themselves on a cyclocross bike would definitely point me towards the 49cm model.

The side issue here is if going to the 49cm is going to cause me toeclip overlap problems. Something I'm not thrilled about on an offroading bike.

Please help!
Thanks

[aluckyfiji]

Well if it helps, I ride a 52cm Felt (road) and when I rode my friends cyclocross (she rides a 52 also) her Redline is a 48cm, and we both have just enough stand over height on it, so I would not be surprised if you needed a 49cm lemond
The reason that cyclocross bikes are different is the bottom bracket is raised (compared to a road bike), thus increasing the standover
There are others on her that can give better advice on fitting a cross bike them me, I was just letting you know (being 5'6" what I found)

[oldskoolboarder]

I'm 5'6", about 29" inseam. On road frames, like Trek and Klein, I'm a 52 cm. Just got an IF Planet X and it's a 48. Fits perfect, so yes the geometry is different than a roadie. You can't take the same frame size from roadie and use it for CX. It'll be too big.

[velocipedio]

the standard practice is to go a size down on a 'cross bike to accomodate the higher bb and have an easier-handling frame.