Thanks to Catriona, ny biker and canonsue for your helpful replies.

Sue, yes -- I also think reach is more of a concern than standover, once you know you can clear the top tube.

From what I've read elsewhere, it seems that getting the bike to fit one's upper body is trickier.

Sheldon Brown thinks top tube length is more essential to sizing than stem length. This newbie thinks that makes a lot of sense. ( See: "Revisionist Theory of Bicycle Sizing" http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html ).

I was also reading about a fit system called Retul that sounds exotic and as though it would be accurate -- http://www.bikefit.com/docs/RetulSummary2008.pdf

A Retul representative in my city spoke with me today, but I doubt that I'll plunk down the $300 price of their fitting.

He said their system would give me information I could take to a bike manufacturer, and that I could then ask the manufacturer whether they'd have something for me.

The Retul rep was a little vague; I'm guessing their results enable you to specify what bike measurements you need, such as your ideal top tube length, seat tube angle, etc.

I've read posts here and elsewhere on the web from many people who've bought bikes that ended up not fitting them.

There really ought to be more standard, accurate and affordable ways of getting a proper bike fit.

Shoe stores have those chrome and black metal foot measuring devices for your feet. Bike stores ought to have their own special gizmos for upper and lower body fit on a bike.

And getting a proper bike fit shouldn't be a big expensive ordeal, but a simple thing a sales person helps you with as a matter of course.

That's my two cents worth, at any rate.