When I was about 20, went to Armor Officer's School in Kentucky; somehow got connected with one of the locals in their E-Town/Radcliffe club. Still remember this beautiful state of Kentucky.
Without knowing anything about frame size, I bought an old school Motobecane that was about 25" frame. I had the seat as low as it could go, & my hips still rocked when I pedaled. They had a tour one weekend, & I rode my first metric century in the rain on this bike. I still marvel at how everyone wasn't making me the joke of the day.
The head guy in their club offered to trade my (oversized) Motobecane for a Colnago for about $600. I still kick myself for not following through on either this deal, or the deal I missed out on cause a guy wanted $350 for an Eddy Merckyx & I offered him $275.