I just recently ordered my first custom bike, and when the preliminary design draft came back from the builder it had a sloping top tube.

I hate the way sloping top tubes look.

So I asked the builder if he could do this with a level top tube instead. He said "Sure, but..." and proceeded to rattle off at least four good reasons why I would be better off with a sloping toptube.

I'll be honest, I don't remember what those reasons were. (!) But the fact that he had compelling reasons for that design -- it's not like he only ever builds sloping toptubes, this was a specific consideration based on what he knew about me and what sort of bike I was looking for -- convinced me to put up with an aesthetic element I wouldn't have originally choosen.

And now that I have the bike, I wouldn't change a thing...because it is freakin' gorgeous!