Newbie needs help buying a bike!

First. 'I' generally think that frame sizing is often a cosmetic issue ... [INDENT]BUT, I reckon that you will be much happier in the long run if you choose a bike which has a 56cm frame (i.e., a frame whose top tube is ~56cm) . [/INDENT] A 2001 bike? Well, despite the "blue book" value, you can possibly find a comparable bike in the right size (for you) for closer to $200-to-$250 ... [INDENT]And, that 2001 bike may as well be a 1998 bike because the frame undoubtedly has a 1" head tube size (yes, that's probably getting-into-the-weeds ...) ... [/INDENT] BECAUSE. for $350 you can probably buy a 2011 bike WHICH IS THE RIGHT SIZE with the same level of components ... possibly, sans the aero-bars, but there is a lot of variability in aero-bars AND those are probably not the ones which you would want.