I just got a 52cm Crosscheck and it's top tube is as long as most 54cm bikes. The shop warned me to get a size smaller than I would usually ride and they were right. It has braze ons for a rear rack and fenders, and a already tried putting some old motorcycle saddlebags on the rear rack and there aren't any heel strike issues. The bike isn't as responsive as my old trek 1000, but is 100 times more comfortable. I also took it out on the mountain bike trails a couple times since it came with knobbies and had a lot of fun. The drop bars add some "pucker factor" to steep downhills!