Originally Posted by
eduskator
It would be good information to share your height and inseam.
A 54cm Colnago is equivalent to 58cm / XL on most other brands if I remember correctly. therefore, 56cm may be too small.
I totally understand that you mean by ''a 58cm would feel like a mountain bike''. Components size increases when going from 56cm to 58cm (wider bars, longer stem, longer crankarms). I'm 6'1'' and need a 58cm frameset (Giant & Specialized), but 54-56cm components. I owned both a 56cm TCR and a 56cm Propel and they felt too small although I was in their recommended range. I didn't like the extra seat post sticking out & spacers between the stem and headset neither.
I am in the exact same boat. I went from a ML Defy to the Colnago. The Colnago fits more like 57cm size, a bit smaller than a Large TCR. On the Defy I was just like you, the seat post up to the max and 130mm stem and still felt a bit cramped. This colnago just fits me like a glove, but the itch for N+1 remains. But I also dont want to get a new bike and spend another few 100$ replacing cranks, stem, bar etc.
Honestly, I companies would start to allow buyer to custom the contact points. Its not much work to throw in cranks and bar/stem of choosing.