I am looking for a new modern steel frame to build up. I'm deciding between Wraith Hustle (top of my budget):

The Hustle | Wraith Fabrication

and Soma Smoothie (not as nice but half the price)

Smoothie | SOMA Fabrications
.

I'm about 5 10 1/2 with cycling inseem of 33" I used the compative fit calculator and got this

Seat Tube Range c–c:
Seat Tube Range c–t:
Top Tube Length:
Stem Length:
BB–Saddle Position:
Saddle Handlebar:
Saddle Setback: 54.3 - 54.8 cm
56 - 56.5 cm
54.7 - 55.1 cm
11.2 - 11.8 cm
71.8 - 73.8 cm
53.7 - 54.3 cm
5.6 - 6 cm



For frame of reference I have had a CAAD frame in both 54 and 56 and both "fit"

https://lfgss.microco.sm/api/v1/file...033a8945f1.gif

. I like a somewhat aggressive fit and found the 54 with 120mm stem to work very well. 56 with shorter stem was comfortable but probably as big as I would go. I have owned other bikes including bigger frames closer to 57-58 and felt they were way too big. I also have a traditional steel road bike in 55x55 which fits pretty well.

I really like the idea of the Wraith bike as a really nice steel frame that I could have the rest of my life but the fact that they have only 4 sizes and big jump from M to M/L scares me. The M with 540mm top tube seems like it would be pushing my limit on aggressive side. The M/L has a 565mm top tube and I've had a couple of bikes that size that felt like I was driving a Cadillac The 578mm seat tube on the M/L also makes me think I would need the saddle pretty low. But the Wraith seems to have tall head tubes for the size and I know that can shorten the top tube so maybe the M/L reach would feel closer to a 55 cm top tube? And more importantly would the M with 54 cm top tube feel more like a 52? Any thoughts? Unfortunately these are both sold as frames only so I can't really test ride. The Soma has many more small size increments and I think the 54 Soma Smoothie would fit close to a 54 CAAD and 56 would fit close to 56 CAAD.

Keep in mind that ride quality is inversely related to tube length, the shorter you go the worse it gets. You can't replace the flexibility and resilience with stem length. My former steel stead a 57cm (56cm using more modern methods) had a long top tube and 10cm stem to serve up a comfortable all day ride. It just plain fit.

If you're on the fence, go with the smaller frame. That's the usual advice. It is certainly good for lighter riders that will benefit from the climbing weight. In this case, I'd argue to allow yourself a 10cm stem and see where that puts you. If you're thinking 56cm w/12cm stem, that sounds neat and tidy too.

I don't exactly know what you get towards performance with the Wraith bike but it sure is a looker. If you can talk your way into one, who am I to talk you out? I'd get the M/L and go with the 10cm stem. If you're looking at your riding calendar more than your fantastic new bike, I think the Soma Smoothie is a solid value. I'd be even tempted to look at what's available for around $300 and leave myself $150 for a nice fork.

Edited to add: Oh Oh Smoothies on sale for $400. https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...hie-road-frame

Yeah, I've seen Smoothie frame as low as $359 and they are plentiful enough that they show up used on ebay fairly regularly. The Wraith gives you Columbus Life tubing which I understand is about as good as it gets these days as opposed to Tange Prestige on Soma ( still pretty good). Wraith is hand built and welded in US as opposed to hand made in Taiwan like the Soma. The Wraith is just over 3 lbs which rivals carbon, the Soma is just over 4 lbs (also still pretty good). The Wraith has the integrated headset which looks cleaner and probably won't run into many others on the road with the same bike. Wraith cones with a high end fork such as Enve or Whiskey . $1350 with free shipping so its a lot more than the Soma but still less than a Gunnar or other high end steel and half as much as a lot of the high end custom steel frame that run $2500+. So its expensive but also cheap when you consider what you get for the money. It would just be a shame to make that kind of investment and not love the fit. I emailed the owner as they advertise free fitting to see what he suggests. ...but I'm also cheap and aplvmy other builds have been used frames that I got deals on so I may go with the Soma to be practical. I do commute every day and do another 40-80 miles per week for fun and this would end up being my only bike as I've downsized so I want something I love riding

Don't second guess the frame size. Never.

There HAS to be something that make your CAAD's in 54 and 56 balance out so that they both fit. And you said the 55x55 was okay which I took to mean a little scrunched up. I'm 5'10-3/4 with 32" inseam and relatively long arms and fit a 56/57 great. I hear guys my size get along with 57/56/55/ but 54 would seem short for your 33" inseam and the stem would be over 12cm IMHO.

I think you'll end up trying a stem or two when you build the bike. That's pretty much par for the course.

The CAAD 54 with 120mm stem worked but I probably could have used a 130mm stem to be stretched out properly. The 56 felt like I could not get low enough sometimes but I did have the cone spacer on top of the headset so I probably could have gotten a low profile cap and fixed that.

I think the 540mm ett on the Wraith may be a little too short for you, when you look at the 366mm reach for that size.
(My inseam is a bit over an inch taller than you / same height though, and ride a 543mm ett, with a 373mm reach).

The Smoothie with its 550mm ett would be pretty good imo, but I read the reach numbers for that size, and something seems way off in the reach figures across the frame sizes.
ie 366mm on the Wraith, but over 390mm on the Smoothie ???

The Smoothie also has a 10mm shorter headtube, which would suit your "agressive" position liking.

Edit: Read your post again and noticed your mention of the steel bike you have 55x55.
I would get a tape measure out and measure reach and stack of that frame, along with the seat tube angle.
Then compare those figures against these two frames; go from there.

I measured my Ironman which is a 56 technically but top tube measues 55. Stack and reach are almost identical to the Soma in 54. I think I will go with that and run a longer stem if needed