I was always hamstrung literally and physically by too small bikes and worked around it with long and tall stems and SP's.

I used to go to shops and the "fit" guy would insert himself making some comment about having one or both too high, etc.

"Really?" I would say, so out came the plumbob, tape measure, protractor, etc then they would proceed to measure and always end up with something like "huh, thats right where I would have put them."

Never had any proper size bikes growing up so didn't really know any better but always made them fit the best I could.

My first good bike in HS almost fit when I got it but didn't after the next growth spurt, got a long Campy SP for a good deal but finally figured out it was a narrow rail so the seat was weird being a regular forced onto the narrow post, also got a 135mm 3t stem that helped a lot at the time but it had an odd effect too for being so long.