If it's any consolation; I fancied buying a new Italian Road Bike,the Gios appealed to me,Excel of course had it. I obcessed over the top-tube being short so I dismissed it as a choice. Months later, enlisting the help of experts, fit calcs. etc., The "oh so short " top-tube on that Gios, is precisely within recomended size after-all. Of course touring is different. The point IS that top tube lengths have increased,it's a trend thing, arguably "initiated " by LeMond. It will drive you crazy,if yoy let it,I did, I know better now. I got a new bike,more used ones too. You don't need a fit-specialist " either,that's HS, you have a collection, a virtual laboratory. In my own "travels" I ended-up where I'd found myself over 20 years ago.