I'm pretty close on my Surly Cross Check. You just want to *ahem* make sure that nothing too painful will get hit if you end up unexpectedly straddling the bike. It's mostly a safety issue as I understand it. It depends on body proportions - some folks need a "taller" bike to get a good reach.

If you're already talking about putting on a shorter stem, I think I would try the next size smaller and see how that feels too.

Good luck on your fit!