I am 5-10, 33.8 inch actual cycling inseam and long arms. You guys seem to all have short legs for your height? When purchasing the Cross Check do not go by the stated frame size. Look at the top tube length for a better idea of frame size. I bought a 54cm frame per Surley but the top tube is 56cm. The 56cm is my preferred size. (Frame sizing, if going by manufactuer's numbers, I own bicycles from 53cm to 58cm but they all have an effective 56cm top tube plus or minus .5cm, they all measure frame size differently and it causes confusion).
Why is the Cross Check odd? It is a cycle cross bicycle and therefore has a high bottom bracket and a low top tube for standover on uneven ground. The high bottom bracket pushes the seat tube way up and consequently the final seat position when set. The short steering tube results from the low and horizontal top tube, these two things usually result in a fairly aggressive set up with plenty of drop to the bar tops from the saddle. Further the low top tube is going to show a lot of seat post and the high bottom bracket and short head tube will result in plenty of drop from saddle to bar.
If you are truly only a 33.5 inch cycling inseam? You must have a long torso and long arms? To get the top tube length you need you will probably need the 56cm. If you have standover on the 58 you might consider it, see my postulation below on the flat bar dealio. You would size up to get a more upright riding position. Note, you will see many Cross Check owners with a stack of spacers on the head tube to raise the bar up. This is normal for the Cross Check. Make sure to have the shop leave lots and lots of uncut steering tube so you can play with it. Cut it to final size only after living with the bike for a while.
I know nothing about flat bars. I would think you could tolerate a longer top tube because the bars do not sweep forward and there are no hoods, effectively shortening the cockpit. If you intend to use drop bars in the future, I would get the smaller direction so you do not have a short stem. Nobody wants a short stem ya know!
You may want to actually measure your cycling inseam. In stocking feet or bare footed, no cloths but thin undies (or actual, no pad cycling shorts), stand back to a wall on a tile or wood floor (no carpet) and have a buddy shove a hard cover book with a one inch spine up into your crotch until your feet go light and it starts to hurt. Put a mark on the wall at the top of the book spine. Do this three times and average. That is your cycling inseam. Knowing your starting point saddle height and preferred top tube length will help you to size frames. If you have a 33.5 inch cycling inseam, then per the Lemond Formula your saddle stating position, measured from the center of the bottom bracket, along the seat tube to the top of the saddle is 29.6 inches. JFYI.
Me on my CC:
