When you get out and ride a number of bikes (an activity in which I excel), you'll find that different "compact geometry" bikes can feel VERY different from each other. Companies like LeMond, Merlin, and Cannondale (I'm sure there are others) have compact geometry bikes with long top tubes. If you rode one of these and followed it with a ride on a bike like a Raleigh Cadent or Trek Pilot, you would immediately notice that you are more upright and have a shorter reach on the latter two bikes.

As I like a more upright position, I find a bike like the Trek Pilot to be at least marginally comfortable. But when I tried a LeMond Reno, I could hardly ride the bike. It felt like it was trying to pull my arms of their sockets. Others love the Reno and feel cramped up on the Pilot.

Compacts are now making up a large percentage of the road bike market. Some manufacturers now offer only compacts.