I'm 5'9" and I've almost always ridden a 54. I have ridden a 52 with a long stem and long seatpost. the thing is that not all 54s have the same toptube and that is the key. depending on the toptube, I have used stems ranging from 100 to 130. for a city bike, you might also want a sloping toptube...great for quick mounts and dismounts! good luck!