Hi everyone, I’m looking for some collective wisdom on my next bike purchase. I’ve realized the hard way that my current setup is a biomechanical mismatch, and I’m ready to move on to something that actually fits my proportions. The Body Stats: • Height: 177 cm • Inseam: 85.5 cm • Proportions: Classic "Long Legs / Short Torso" (LLST). The Current Problem: I’m currently riding a Specialized Tarmac SL7 in size 56 (Reach: 398 mm, Stack: 555 mm). While it’s a beautiful machine, it’s become a "stretch-fest" nightmare for me. To find a proper center of gravity and take the weight off my hands, I’ve had to push my saddle back on a 20 mm offset post (nearly maxing out the rails). This fixes the balance but makes the Reach to the bars absolutely massive for my short torso. The Symptoms: • Persistent lower back pain (specifically on the right side). • Hand numbness and excessive pressure on the hoods. • Feeling like I’m in a "Superman" position just to reach the controls. What I’ve Learned: A race-geo size 56 is simply too long, and a size 54 often has a Stack so low that the "saddle-to-bar drop" becomes too aggressive for my back. I need a frame that favors a High Stack-to-Reach ratio. The Ask: I’m looking for recommendations for a "fast but comfortable" frame that suits a short-torso rider. I’m leaning towards "All-Road" or "Endurance-Plus" geometries, but I still want something responsive. Current candidates on my radar: 1. Superior RR (Looking at the size 54/M - the Stack seems promising). 2. Canyon Endurace (The CF SLX/CFR line). 3. Giant Defy Advanced SL. Are there any other "Unicorn" frames I should look at that offer a short Reach without a slammed front end? If you are a fellow LLST rider, what are you riding that finally stopped your back pain? Thanks in advance for the help!

I know most fitters today no longer subscribe to using KOPS for saddle fore/aft. I know everyone is different, but is it more likely that being in front of KOPS is better, or being behind it? Is the "balance/hands-off" test a better way to determine fore/aft? Or, is there some other trick fitters use?