I dont see how its a crock :confused: this should give you a good baseline to get started. I didn't copy the whole chapter but, it's backed up by science, You think Lance Armstrong gets on his bike and adjusts things until they feel "right", I dont think so, they test this stuff, over and over, recording the results, and test again.

LeMond also says, " There are a couple of additional, but important, things to keep in mind. The overall height formula assumes that you ride in cycling shoes with an average sole thickness. Even though you measure yourself only in socks, the formula is calculated to include the thickness of your cycling shoes (presumably you never ride in bare feet). But if you have a pair of those Italian cycling shoes with the thick, wooden soles, you'll have to add the difference between the average sole (like Brancale) and your soles to your frame height. In other words, Adidas shoes-to take Huggi's model-have a sole thickness of about twelve millimeters (including the thickness of the slot on your cleat). If your model has a sole that measures, for example, twenty-two millimeters, you'll have to measure the difference between the twelve-millimeter standard used by Huggi and your shoe. Then subtract the difference from the overall height measurement. If your soles are thinner than the Adidas models, you need to add the difference in thickness to the overall height.
The best way to measure the soles of your shoes is to take a pair of calipers and measure your soles at the center of the ball of the foot. Be sure to put the calipers through the slot in your cleat-remember you want to measure everything as it would be on the bike. If you can't do that, take a piece of string, estimate the thickness of the sole at the center of the ball of your foot (including the slot in the cleat). You can then measure that string with a ruler.
If you are extremely concerned about exactness, measure the thickness of your cycling shoe soles. But really, it's not going to make a big difference. Remember, when you're within a centimeter of your correct overall height measurement, you'll be fine. Also, external factors like shifting your position on the saddle and riding in wet cycling shorts will change your position a little anyway. Don't get overly hung up on the minor details of setting up your position-if you do it could become a psychological crutch.
The overall height formula also assumes that you're going to ride with the standard-length 170 millimeter cranks. Of course, you may ride with different cranks, depending on your needs and personal preference. The reason for changing crankarm lengths is to get more leverage (with longer cranks) or more speed (with shorter cranks). If you change your overall height to accommodate the difference in crankarm lengths, you'll reduce the added leverage or speed you could get with a different length of crankarm.
The formula for overall height that I describe here is calculated for 170millimeter crankarms. But I ordinarily ride in 175-millimeter cranks and still use the same measurement. "

This is an old book and yet alot of people still go by these "baselines"

Dont forget, This guy was the first American to win the Tour de France, 3 times, and came back from a near fatal gunshot wound. He also helped design the shifters we use, the cycle computer and a lot more that makes the bike that we ride today.