Thank you for all your insight. I am surprised you all said go down a size. It makes sense to me now, No doubt that is what would be best for mountain bike riding. I failed to mention that I was thinking more along the lines of gravel riding/cyclocross. I did one cyclocross race last year and it was a 17 in vintage mountain bike with flat bars. I felt more stable on rocky terrain, but maybe the flat bars were not the best when on flat grass or gravel. Do you all think this would change the sizing to a bigger frame so as to be more forward riding posture?