Originally Posted by
Yotsko
Standover height doesn't mean squat. What really matters is cockpit length (ie - top tube length + seat tube angle = reach). I'm 5'9" and ride a 19" X-Cal 29er. Top tube is a little high, but the rest of the bike fits much better.
It probably really comes down to: do you want the bike to fit well or do you want to have a slight risk of racking yourself? Test ride different sizes to see what feels right to you...and get clipless pedals.
Exactly, your body could be proportioned like a tyrannosaurus or an orangutan. STandover is important though, if your sack is touching the tube on the flat you're gonna nail it the first steep up or down hill you have to dismount on.