Specialized Tricross Sale

how could you get it that wrong?
a 10 second google search yields:

TRICROSS Tricross Rider Height Rider Height (cm)

Bike Size    
49cm    5' 0" - 5' 3"   152 - 160
52cm    5' 3" - 5' 6"   160 - 168
54cm    5' 6" - 5' 9"   168 - 175
56cm    5' 9" - 6' 0"   175 - 183
58cm    6' 0" - 6' 3"   183 - 191
61cm    6' 3" - 6' 6"   191 - 19

specialized also use size specific tubing to tune the bike relative to the changing rider size. so your 52 should seem flexy because the tube profile has been reduced. likewise if you rode a 61 it may seem too stiff.

the tricross is a big bike anyway, the standover is higher than most specialized bike, but once you analyse the measurements such as toptube, which is incidentally shorter than a 56 road bike, all makes sense.

another thing to consider with the sizing is how flexible are you?
less flexible riders will often go the size up if borderline because of the increased headtube height. that said though the riding position on any tricross is particularly high

and i anyone has the crosstop levers fitted, remove them immediately as they make the brakes feel like cheese