Originally Posted by well biked
It's strictly a case-to-case thing with the brake reach issue, ...
In the end, it's the distance from the rim sidewall to the brake caliper mounting hole (on the fork for the front wheel and on the seat stay brake bridge for the rear). Every case can be different, and usually is - just as you say. There's likely a quote from Sheldon "Reach_is_Everything" Brown on this subject ;-)