Originally Posted by
FarHorizon
My bad - I read your post not as "standover issues," but rather as "standover measurement issues," since that was the topic under discussion.
The problem that I've consistently had with compact frames is not standover per se. It's getting a decent fit and reach. Too low a standover means that the knee over pedal spindle at 3:00 is impossible because the frame is too small. A standover that fits at the seat / top tube junction may allow adequate KOPS fit, but has NO standover safety margin at all, since the top tube climbs steadily toward the steerer tube.
The various manufacturer measurements for compact frames don't help with these issues.
So to summarize - thrice burned = perpetually shy of compact frames. Your mileage may vary...
I haven't followed all of your threads, but my impression is that you are having some rather odd fit issues, maybe compounded by selecting bikes unsuited for the desired fit. The pictures of your Kona bike, the one you are getting rid of, showed some really unusual modifications in the search for fit. Also I get the feeling that you are reading all sorts of stuff and may be applying it incorrectly or out of context.
I suggest you might want to start a thread that, in a fairly complete manner, states your relevant dimensions, what sort of bike you are looking for, what fit issues you are encountering, and maybe the results of plugging your dimensions into a fit calculator like the one at Competitive Cycle. A photo of you on the bike, that illustrates the fit issues, would be very helpful.