I am looking around for a new road bike and I am looking at the Trek 1.2 in H2 configuration, the Specialized Allez, and the Fuji Altimax. I have always ridden a 60cm frame which in the traditional frame configuration (the double diamond with a horizontal top tube) was good for me. I also rode a 59 cm top tube with a 110mm or 120mm stem with approx 7cm of saddle setback and that pretty much was the sweet spot for me. Now these newer frames with the so-called "compact" geometry have got me all confused.

What I am seeing is that with the new frames a size Large equates to approx a 59 or 60 cm frame size in the traditional sense with a freakishly long 60cm top tube. The size X-Large equates to approx a 61 or 62cm frame with a terrifying 61 or 62cm top tube. I have been leaning towards a size Large frame to get the top tube length that I have been used to.

I stopped into the shop that carries Trek bikes this weekend and the sales guy who approached me was quite full of himself. I told him what my needs were and also the size I was looking for and he started shaking his head and told me that he "wouldn't sell you anything other than a size XL frame". When I asked him what he planned to do about the horrifically long top tube his response was "oh, we'll slap on a 100mm stem for you and everything will be OK". When I told him that I was more comfortable with the thought of the 59cm or 60cm top tube that came on the size Large bike his remark was "oh, you don't want that, we would have to put on a 130mm stem and the bike would be unrideable". After hearing this I politely thanked the sales guy for his time and left as quickly as possible.

I would like to have the opinions of the group on this. Is this guy really as full of himself as I think he is or is there any truth to what he was telling me? I don't want to make a mistake and wind up with an uncomfortable bike that sits in a corner and collects dust. The few times I have ridden the new frames and tested a size X-Large I have felt way too stretched out but maybe it is something I might get used to over time. Thanks everyone.